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On September 12, 2014, the Service revised Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for the contiguous United States distinct population segment (DPS) of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis). The Service finalized both a revised critical habitat designation for the lynx DPS and a revised definition for what constitutes the range of the DPS – the portion of the species’ North American range in which lynx are protected by the Act.

• News Release
• Questions And Answers
• Fact Sheet
• Federal Register Notice: September 12, 2014 Revised Designation of Critical Habitat for the Contiguous United States Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx and Revised Distinct Population Segment Boundary
• Final Environmental Assessment
• Signed FONSI (finding of no siginificant impact)
• Critical Habitat Shapefiles zipped file (6 MB)
• Vertices zipped file (1.5 MB)
• Critical Habitat Maps in the Final Rule
• Index map - All Units
• Unit 1 - Maine
• Unit 2 - Minnesota
• Unit 3 - Northern Rockies
• Unit 4 - North Cascades
• Unit 5 - Greater Yellowstone Area
• 5 color maps showing the changes in critical habitat between the proposed and final rules
• Unit 1 - Maine
• Unit 2 - Minnesota
• Unit 3 - Northern Rockies
• Unit 4 - North Cascades
• Unit 5 - Greater Yellowstone Area
• Literature cited.

On June 20, 2014, the Service announced the availability of a Draft Economic Analysis (DEA) and a draft environmental assessment for the proposed revised designation of critical habitat for the Contiguous U.S. Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  The Service will open a 30-day public comment period until July 21, 2014, to allow the public to review the draft documents. Comments on an amended required determinations section of the proposal may also be made during this comment period.  Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted, as they will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule.

• Federal Register Notice: June 19, 2014 Revised Designation of Critical Habitat for the Contiguous U.S. Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx and Revised Distinct Population Segment Boundary
• Press Release: June 19, 2014 Service Announces Draft Economic Analysis, Draft Environmental Assessment for Revised Canada Lynx Critical Habitat
• Draft Environmental Assessment
• Draft Economic Analysis
  • Final Economic Screening Tool Report
  • Final Incremental Effects Memo
  • Revised Screening Memo

On September 25, 2013, the Service announced a proposal to revise the critical habitat designation for the Contiguous United States Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the Canada lynx. The Service previously listed the lynx as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (Act)in 2000 and designated critical habitat for the species in 2006, which was revised in 2009. This current revision was undertaken to address two court orders resulting from litigation over the 2009 critical habitat designation. The Service also proposes to revise the definition of the lynx DPS to ensure that all lynx in the contiguous United States are protected under the Act. The Service is accepting public comment on this action until December 26, 2013. More information can be found at http://www.regulations.gov, Docket No. FWS-R6-ES-2013-0101.

• Federal Register Notice: September 26, 2013 Revised Designation of Critical Habitat for the Contiguous U.S. Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx and Revised Distinct Population Segment Boundary
• Press Release: September 25, 2013 Revised Critical Habitat Designation for Canada Lynx Proposed under the Endangered Species Act
• Literature Cited
• Critical Habitat Maps
• Questions and Answers
• Peer Review Plan
• Peer Review Comments
• Fact Sheet
• Critical Habitat Shapefiles

The Service announced on December 17, 2009, that changing the boundaries of the Endangered Species Act listing for the Canada lynx to include the State of New Mexico is warranted; however, the action is precluded at this time by the need to complete other listing actions of a higher priority.

• Federal Register Notice: December 17, 2009 12-month Finding on a Petition To Change the Final Listing of the Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx To Include New Mexico
• Press Release: December 16, 2009 Protection for Canada Lynx in New Mexico Is Warranted

On March 24, 2000, the contiguous United States population of the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.   This site provides access to various sources of information on the Canada lynx, including documents about recovery planning, critical habitat, the listing decision, section 7 consultations, research, archives, and other informational web sites.

Last Updated: December 22, 2015