26 Million Acres of Protected Critical Habitat Proposed for Canada Lynx in Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Washington and Wyoming

In response to two lawsuits, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has again proposed protected critical habitat for the Canada lynx. The proposed 26.6 million acres spread across six states expands a 2009 designation, including additional areas in northeastern Maine and northwestern Wyoming. “Like many animals, Canada lynx need quiet places free of disturbance from snowmobiles and other human activities to survive, so we’re thrilled the Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed expanding their critical habitat,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “These unique cats need every acre of the critical habitat designated and more if they are to avoid extinction in the United States.”  The new designation responds to court challenges from the Wyoming and Washington State Snowmobile Associations and conservation groups. The snowmobilers had sought to nullify critical habitat, but instead the court ordered the Fish and Wildlife Service to redo aspects of its economic analysis. Three conservation groups — the Center for Biological Diversity, Earthjustice and Conservation Northwest — intervened in that suit to ensure continued protection of lynx habitat. Separately, the Sierra Club and Alliance for the Wild Rockies challenged the designation for not encompassing a sufficient area. The rare wildcat’s population has been reduced by trapping and habitat loss, and critical habitat designation is essential to its survival and recovery. The designation requires that federal agencies ensure their actions will not adversely modify or destroy the lynx’s critical habitat, including by building and maintaining trails for snowmobilers. Today’s proposal would increase the 2009 designation, which included 24,960,000 acres, by a total of 1,630,000 acres, including the new areas in Maine and Wyoming. The Service, however, also said today it is considering excluding 1,225,600 acres on tribal, state and private lands based on management of these lands...more