Lynx Public Comment Period Reopened until April 30
Proposal to designate critical habitat for the Canada Lynx
February 25, 2006
On February 16th, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reopened the public comment period for the proposal to designate approximately 18,031 square miles as critical habitat for the federally threatened Canada lynx. Areas proposed as critical habitat include portions of northern Maine, northeastern Minnesota, the northern Rocky Mountains (northwestern Montana and a small portion of northern Idaho), and the Okanogan area of the northern Cascades in north-central Washington.
This notice reopening the comment period also provides information that clarifies the critical habitat proposal that was published in the Federal Register on November 9, 2005. Specifically, this notice provides more accurate maps and estimates of the size of the proposed units, particularly for the Northern Rocky Mountains and Northern Cascades units.
Areas proposed as critical habitat for the Canada lynx include boreal forest landscapes that provide beneficial habitat elements for the lynx, including snowshoe hares for prey and abundant large, woody debris piles that are used as dens. All proposed areas have recent verified records of lynx occurrence and reproduction and thus are considered occupied. The areas proposed for designation include:
Northeast:
Maine - approximately 10,633 square miles in portions of Aroostook, Franklin, Penobscot, Piscataquis and Somerset Counties;
Great Lakes:
Minnesota: approximately 3,546 square miles in portions of Cook, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis Counties
Northern Rockies:
(Montana and Idaho): approximately 3,549 square miles in portions of Boundary County, Idaho; and Flathead, Glacier, Granite, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Missoula, Pondera, Powell, and Teton Counties in Montana
Cascades:
Washington: approximately 303 square miles in portions of Chelan and Okanogan Counties.
The Service is seeking comments and information from the public on all aspects of the proposal, including data on economic and other potential impacts of the designation. Comments are also solicited regarding the inclusion of certain lands in the designation and the appropriateness of excluding lands from this designation that are covered by management plans that provide for the conservation of lynx.
Comments and information from interested parties will be accepted until April 30, 2006 and may be sent to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Montana Ecological Services Office, 585 Shepard Way, Helena, Montana 59601. Comments may also be sent by e-mail to fw6_lynx@fws.gov.
The Canada lynx was listed in 2000 as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) throughout its range in the contiguous United States. The lynx currently lives in forest habitat all across North America.
The Service is preparing a draft economic analysis of the proposed critical habitat that will be released for public review and comment at a later date.
A copy of the proposed rule and other information about the Canada lynx is available on the web at http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/species/mammals/lynx or by calling the Service’s Montana Field Office at 406-449-5225.
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