U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes Revised Critical Habitat for Canada Lynx

Canada Lynx Whitehorse Yukon Photo credit Ryan Pennesi, U.S. Forest Service The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is undertaking two significant steps to enhance the conservation and recovery efforts for the threatened Canada lynx population in the lower 48 states. The Service is proposing revisions to the existing critical habitat designation and has released the final recovery plan for this species. These actions are designed to ensure the long-term survival of this elusive wildcat, which is adapted to cold environments and relies on boreal forests and a sustainable population of snowshoe hares for its survival. The proposed critical habitat designation encompasses approximately 19,112 square miles across Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Washington, and Wyoming. This revision is informed by current scientific insights regarding the habitat requirements of the Canada lynx and seeks to balance conservation needs with land-use priorities. It follows a court-ordered review and updates the 2014 designation in the western United States by reducing areas where lynx are unlikely to prosper while incorporating new areas deemed more suitable for the sustainability of the species. The existing critical habitat designations in Maine and Minnesota will remain unchanged under this proposal. The final recovery plan for the Canada lynx establishes clear strategies and measurable objectives to support long-term conservation throughout its contiguous U.S. range. The Service has collaborated extensively with state, tribal, and federal partners to develop science-based conservation measures to mitigate the risks faced by the Canada lynx. The primary threats identified include the effects of global climate change on boreal forest habitats and the species that depend on them, including both lynx and snowshoe hares. The Canada lynx is a medium-sized wildcat specially adapted to cold, snowy conditions, characterized by its large paws, which facilitate the hunting of snowshoe hares. While Canada and Alaska host widespread and abundant lynx populations, the populations within the contiguous United States are fragmented and small, facing significant pressures from habitat loss and human activity. The Canada lynx in the lower 48 states was designated as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2000. The proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register on November 29, 2024, which will initiate a 60-day comment period. The Service will review and consider all comments submitted by January 28, 2025, before publishing a final rule. For additional information, please refer to www.regulations.gov, docket no. FWS–R6–ES–20.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes Revised Critical Habitat for Canada Lynx

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