Modelling the distribution and abundance of species at risk is extremely important for their conservation and management. We used ecological niche models (ENMs) to predict the occurrence of western rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus) in British Columbia (BC), Canada. We applied this to existing population estimates to support a threshold of occurrence for management and conservation. We also identified predictors influencing rattlesnake distribution and abundance in this region. Using a Geographic Information Systems platform, we incorporated ENMs, capture–mark–recapture (CMR) and radio-telemetry results, province-wide observations, Landsat imagery and provincial databases for agricultural land use to produce quantitative, spatially explicit, population estimates across BC. Using available western rattlesnake habitat estimated at 183.9 km2 and averaging estimates calculated from densities in three study populations, we generated a mean adult population size of 9722 (±SD 3009; 0.8 relative index of occurrence [RIO] threshold). Only a small area (21.6 km2) of suitable land cover was located within protected areas, potentially protecting an estimated 1144 (±354) adults. Most suitable land cover was within 500 m of roads (170.6 km2), representing potential habitat being used by an estimated 9017 (±2791) adults. At the threshold RIO value chosen (0.8), only a very small area of farmland provided suitable land cover. Our results highlight the possibility of high mortality rates for western rattlesnakes near roads and the fact that protected areas do not provide sufficient coverage to conserve the population. Given that this species has relatively low mobility and high site fidelity to home ranges, our population estimate for BC provides a useful reference for the northern part of the species’ range. It also fulfills a need to estimate population size within political jurisdictions where conservation management decisions are made, as well as presenting a method that can be applied to other parts of the range, including the southern United States. Our study provides an important benchmark for future monitoring of western rattlesnakes in BC using a repeatable and transparent approach. Similar applications can be extrapolated and applied for other threatened species to identify and quantify population distributions and threats, further supporting conservation prioritization tools to be used to maximize the effectiveness of conservation strategies under financial constraints.

The establishment of protected areas is a cornerstone of conservation, but permanent protection could be inefficient or even impossible in some situations. Here we synthesize the literature on temporary conserved areas (TCAs) across North America (Canada, the United States, and Mexico). We used a comprehensive search string to retrieve peer‐reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2021 from the Web of Science. We identified 27 relevant peer‐reviewed articles that examined the potential benefits of TCAs in North America. Our findings reveal that TCA is a relatively new and understudied area of research in the peer‐reviewed literature. Current TCA studies are highly clustered, generally focusing on protecting a single life‐cycle stage of migratory species and preventing human‐driven threats mainly in public lands of coastal areas and of the Great Plains and Mississippi Valley in the central United States. Most studies relate to temporary conservation of breeding or staging habitats for migratory birds. Experimental studies combined with short‐term study periods are the dominant study types. TCAs have the potential to complement permanently protected areas or provide protection when truly permanent protection is difficult. Despite some research into their value, the ecological, social, and economic outcomes of TCAs remain unclear, and more TCA research is needed to understand what role they could play in conservation in North America and around the globe. TCAs may represent an innovative paradigm to track and report temporary area‐based conservation measures. However, a global review and analysis of effectiveness of TCAs will be required if they are to play a formal role in meeting international targets for biodiversity conservation.Article impact statement: Temporary conservation has the potential to complement protected areas and other effective area‐based conservation measures.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved