News
Mission:
To protect and promote the natural, recreational and historic resources of Voyageurs National Park.
Comment Period Reopened: Canada Lynx Critical Habitat
The Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) is the only lynx species in North America, and has been listed as a threatened species since 2000, through the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is going to revise the designated lynx critical habitat as proposed in the Federal Register on February 28, 2008 (click the PDF icon to view the document).
The proposal calls for a total of 42,753 square miles of land designated as critical habitat, which would add nearly 40,913 sq. mi. to the existing habitat desgnation of merely 1,841 sq. mi. Suggested land is in Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming. In Minnesota, sections of Cook, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis counties are all included, though many towns, such as Kettle Falls, Kabetogama, and Crane Lake are not. The proposal would increase critical habitat in Minnesota from the current 317 sq. mi. in Voyageurs National Park to over 8,000 sq. mi. of northern Minnesota.
On October 21, 2008, the Draft Economic Analysis and Draft Environmental Assessment became available with the release of the revised proposed rule in the Federal Register, as well as a reopening of the period for public comments. Comments are due by November 20, 2008 and can be made by visiting ‘revised proposed rule’ link above (click on the comments icon) or by mail at the following address:
Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R6-ES-2008-0026; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.
For more information about the Canada lynx and its habitat, see the FWS Mountain-Prairie website.
Image by digitalART2, licensed under Creative Commons.