The final rule designating the contiguous United States Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of Canada lynx as a Federally Threatened species (Fed. Reg. 65(58):16052-16086) concludes that there is a lack of adequate information on the status and distribution of lynx in the Great Lakes Region. Threatened Species status created a legal obligation to increase understanding of the ecology and natural history of the species throughout its conterminous U.S. range. Federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the National Park Service (NPS) work within the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Forest Management Act (NFMA), and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) while making management decisions that could impact Canada lynx. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) provides for the conservation and recovery of listed species. The Act directs all Federal agencies to utilize their resources to carry out programs for the conservation of listed species, and to consult with FWS to ensure that their actions do not jeopardize the continued existence of any listed species. The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) Regulations mandate the USDA-Forest Service to maintain viable populations of all plant and animal species on each National Forest. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) provides a means by which the actions of all Federal agencies are analyzed in order to fully disclose the expected impacts to the environment such that an informed decision can be made. The interagency Lynx Conservation and Assessment Strategy (LCAS) by Ruediger et al. (2000) serves in lieu of a Recovery Plan for Canada lynx.
Memorandum opinion on the status of Canada lynx in the lower 48 states being threatened or endangered, 12/26/02 (2.5 MB pdf)
Federal Register Notice of Remanded Determination of Status for the Contiguous United States Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx; Clarification of Findings; Final Rule, 7/3/03 (204 KB pdf)