Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Sauger (Sander canadensis)

Species that are considered uncertain risk need a more in-depth assessment beyond the Ecological Risk Screening Summary to better define the species’ risk to U.S. environments.

Sander canadensis, Sauger, is a fish that is native from the St. Lawrence River and Lake Champlain through the Mississippi River Basin, parts of the southeastern United States, and in Canada from Quebec to Alberta. S. canadensis has been introduced via stocking in many bodies of water across the United States and has become established outside of its native range. There are recreational, commercial, and indigenous fisheries for this species in North America. S. canadensis may hybridize with walleye, S. vitreus, producing the Saugeye. The History of Invasiveness for S. canadensis is classified as Data Deficient due to it being established outside of its native range but there being no clear, convincing, reliable evidence of impacts of its introduction. The climate matching analysis for the contiguous United States indicates establishment concern for this species outside its native range. The highest matches occurred from Maine south to central Florida and west to Texas and Montana. The Certainty of Assessment for this ERSS is classified as Low due to the lack of information regarding impacts of introductions. The Overall Risk Assessment Category for Sander canadensis in the contiguous United States is Uncertain.