Species Use Database

Sandhill crane
Grus canadensis

Used for Food and feed and Conservation Management in Canada

A. Species

Scientific name: Grus canadensis

Common name(s): Sandhill crane

Global IUCN Red List Threat Status: Least Concern


B. Location of use

Geographic location(s):

  • Canada

Country/Region:


C. Scale of assessment

Scale of assessment: National Level

Name/Details of location: Canada


D. Timescale of use

Start Year: 2014

End Year: 2014


E. Information about the use

How is the wild species sourced?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat

Type of use: Extractive

Practice of use: Hunting and/or Trapping of live terrestrial and aerial animals

Lethal or non-lethal: Lethal

Does this use involve take/extraction of: The whole entire organism

Purpose(s) of end use: Food and feed and Conservation Management

Motivation of use: Income generation from trade (individual/household/community) and Recreational

Is this use legal or illegal?: Legal under national law


F. Information about the Users

Which stakeholder(s) does the record primarily focus on?: Local people


G. Information about the sustainability of use

Is there evidence that the use is having an impact on the target species?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an ecological perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: "Export of legally obtained Sandhill Crane is considered non-detrimental." "The adaptive management framework for wildlife harvest management programs in Canada is very effective at preventing over-harvest of wildlife because restrictive measures can, and are, applied as necessary. All jurisdictions in Canada have the ability to close harvest in up to 100% of the species' range if necessary. Numerous protected areas exist within Canada, the United States and in Mexico and focus on protecting habitat at key wintering and migratory stopover points. Sandhill crane is managed to ensure long-term maintenance of populations within healthy limits and to provide for diverse uses of the species."

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an economic perspective been recorded?: No, sustainability not determined

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: "Management of this species in Canada is a partnership between governments and harvesters. The economic benefits of hunting of migratory game birds (including Sandhill Crane) to hunters and the Canadian economy are considerable."

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a social perspective been recorded?: not recorded

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a human health perspective been recorded?: not recorded

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an animal health/welfare perspective been recorded?: not recorded


Recommendations provided in the record to maintain or enhance the sustainability of the use of the target species


Record source

Information about the record source: formal_data_stats

Date of publication/issue/production: 2014-01-01T00:00:00+0000

Source Reference(s):

Government of Canada. 2014. Sandhill crane: non-detriment finding. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/convention-international-trade-endangered-species/non-detriment-findings/sandhill-crane.html

Date of record entry: 2023-06-12