Canada Lynx Conservation Assessment and Strategy 2nd Edition August 2000 (as amended Oct. 23-24 2001, May 6-8, 2003 and Nov. 12-13, 2003) How to cite this publication: Ruediger, Bill, Jim Claar, Steve Gniadek, Bryon Holt, Lyle Lewis, Steve Mighton, Bob Naney, Gary Patton, Tony Rinaldi, Joel Trick, Anne Vandehey, Fred Wahl, Nancy Warren, Dick Wenger, and Al Williamson. 2000. Canada lynx conservation assessment and strategy. USDA Forest Service, USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, USDI Bureau of Land Management, and USDI National Park Service. Forest Service Publication #R1-00-53, Missoula, MT. 142 pp. Also available electronically in single-column, text-only format at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/planning/lynx/lynx.html TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................1 Purpose of this Strategy.............................................................................................................................................1 Interim Nature of this Guidance ................................................................................................................................2 Single-species vs. Ecosystem Process Approaches ...................................................................................................2 Guiding Principles .....................................................................................................................................................3 How the Document is Organized...............................................................................................................................3 How the Document Will Be Updated........................................................................................................................4 Chapter 1 - OVERVIEW OF LYNX ECOLOGY ....................................................................................................1 Description ................................................................................................................................................................1 Lynx Diet...................................................................................................................................................................1 Lynx Habitat..............................................................................................................................................................2 Density and Home Range Size ..................................................................................................................................4 Lynx and Snowshoe Hare Relationships ...................................................................................................................5 Lynx and Red Squirrel Relationships ........................................................................................................................7 Lynx Recruitment......................................................................................................................................................9 Lynx Mortality.........................................................................................................................................................10 Lynx Movement and Dispersal................................................................................................................................10 Interspecific Relationships with Other Carnivores..................................................................................................11 Behavioral Response to Humans .............................................................................................................................12 Chapter 2 - RISK FACTORS.....................................................................................................................................1 Factors Affecting Lynx Productivity .........................................................................................................................2 A. Timber Management.........................................................................................................................................2 B. Wildland Fire Management...............................................................................................................................5 C. Recreation ........................................................................................................................................................6 D. Forest/ Backcountry Roads and Trails............................................................................................................11 E. Livestock Grazing ...........................................................................................................................................12 F. Other Human Developments ...........................................................................................................................14 Factors Affecting Lynx Mortality............................................................................................................................15 A. Trapping.........................................................................................................................................................15 B. Predator Control.............................................................................................................................................15 C. Incidental or Illegal Shooting..........................................................................................................................16 D. Competition and Predation as Influenced by Human Activities .....................................................................16 E. Highways.........................................................................................................................................................16 Factors Affecting Lynx Movement..........................................................................................................................17 A. Highways, Railroads and Utility Corridors....................................................................................................17 B. Land Ownership Pattern (federal, state, county, and private) .........................................................................18 C. Ski Areas and Large Resorts...........................................................................................................................18 Other Large-Scale Risk Factors...............................................................................................................................19 A. Fragmentation and Degradation of Lynx Refugia ..........................................................................................19 B. Lynx Movement and Dispersal Across Shrub-Steppe Habitats ......................................................................20 C. Habitat Degradation by Non-native Invasive Plant Species............................................................................21 Chapter 3 - RANGE-WIDE DESCRIPTION AND RISK FACTORS ...................................................................1 Geographic Extent .................................................................................................................................................1 Lynx Population Distribution ................................................................................................................................1 Lynx Habitat..........................................................................................................................................................2 Risk Factors - Rangewide......................................................................................................................................2 Chapter 4 - LYNX GEOGRAPHIC AREAS: DESCRIPTIONS AND RISK FACTORS ....................................1 Cascade Mountains Geographic Area........................................................................................................................2 Geographic Extent .................................................................................................................................................2 Lynx Population Distribution ................................................................................................................................2 Lynx Habitat..........................................................................................................................................................3 Risk Factors Specific to the Cascades ...................................................................................................................4 Northern Rocky Mountains Geographic Area ...........................................................................................................5 Geographic Extent .................................................................................................................................................5 Lynx Population Distribution ................................................................................................................................6 Lynx Habitat..........................................................................................................................................................7 Risk Factors Specific to the Northern Rockies ....................................................................................................11