Canada and the United States share 30 endangered or threatened species. This paper examines the recovery process for species at risk under the two country's domestic laws: Canada's Species at Risk Act and the American Endangered Species Act. These two countries could be working together to recover shared species, especially migratory and cross‐border species. Through comparing the recovery strategies and plans for the 30 species, and interviewing recovery team members on both sides of the border, it is shown that cross‐border collaboration is limited. The paper argues that more collaboration, data sharing, and cross‐border recovery teams are needed. Biodiversity loss is an increasing problem in both countries.