The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has unveiled a recovery plan for the Canada lynx, a species adapted to snowy northern forests and currently threatened. These recovery plans serve as strategic guides, detailing the risks to at-risk species and creating benchmarks for conservation efforts.
Key threats to the Canada lynx in the latest plan include habitat loss in the western U.S. and climate changes affecting winter conditions crucial for hunting snowshoe hare, the lynx’s primary winter food source. The plan developed following a legal settlement involving the federal government and environmental groups like Friends of the Wild Swan and WildEarth Guardians, who criticized a 2017 decision claiming the species no longer needed federal protection.
As part of the agreement, the USFWS abandoned its earlier plan to delist the lynx in the Lower 48 and committed to developing a comprehensive recovery strategy within three years. This week’s announcement of the final plan follows a draft released earlier this year.
Alongside the recovery plan, the USFWS has proposed updates to critical habitat designations. These areas require careful management to prevent activities such as trapping and logging that could harm the lynx. Lindsay Larris, WildEarth Guardians Conservation Director, expressed optimism about the plan’s implementation amid potential administrative changes.
Jim Zelenak, a USFWS biologist, highlighted research indicating higher lynx populations in southern Colorado compared to northern regions like the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This has led to a recommendation to remove some critical habitat designations in southern Montana and northern Wyoming.
The public has 60 days to comment on the proposed rule, and a final decision is expected within about a year.
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