Revised critical habitat designation for Canada lynx proposed

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to revise the critical habitat designation for the Canada lynx in the contiguous United States, a species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The proposal would designate approximately 41,547 square miles as critical habitat within the boundaries of five critical habitat units in the states of Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Wyoming.

    Approximately 11,162 square miles of mostly private lands are located in northern Maine in portions of Aroostook, Franklin, Penobscot, Piscataquis and Somerset counties. Timber harvest and management are the dominant land uses within this area. Exclusion of tribal lands and lands managed in accordance with the Healthy Forest Reserve Program, if finalized, would reduce the designation to 10,131 miles.
    All areas proposed as critical habitat were naturally occupied by lynx when the species was listed as threatened in 2000; currently support the most abundant, persistent and productive lynx populations in the contiguous U.S.; and contain the physical and biological features essential to the conservation of the species.
    During development of this critical habitat proposal, the Service used the best scientific data available as well as information from state, federal and tribal agencies and from academic and private organizations. Based on this information, the Service first determined which lands were essential to the conservation of the Canada lynx by defining the physical and biological features essential to the conservation of the species and delineating the specific areas that contain those features, as well as recent verified records of lynx presence.
    An informational public meeting will be held on Monday, Nov. 4, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the George W. Stearns High School auditorium at 199 State St. in Millinocket. Public comments will be accepted until Dec. 26.
    Read more and see instructions on how to comment by visiting: www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/2013/09252013_revisedCriticalHabitatLynx.php.