Protecting the Canada lynx

Idaho officials have fewer than 90 days to change trapping regulations in efforts to protect the Canada lynx following a court order filed by a federal judge.

The order, made public earlier this week in the U.S. District Court, requires the state of Idaho to propose a plan to implement trapping restrictions in the Panhandle and Clearwater regions in North Idaho where the rare lynx still roam. The Panhandle Region comprises the northernmost region of Idaho while the Clearwater Region is just to the south, making up the north portion of the state.

Changes to trapping laws may include restrictions on the size of foothold traps that can be used, banning kill traps such as Conibear body-gripping traps and neck snare, and requiring trappers to check traps every 24 hours rather than every 72 hours.

"We’re thrilled the court agreed with us that Idaho needs to do more to protect the beautiful lynx from Idaho's out-of-control trapping program," Andrea Santarsiere, staff attorney of Center for Biological Diversity, said in a press release. "Based on the illegal trapping of at least four lynx in the past four years, the court agreed with us that the state can't stand idly by and watch while indiscriminate traps harm these rare and federally protected cats."

Under the Endangered Species Act, the Canada lynx is classified as "threatened" and its numbers may be as low as 100 in Idaho. According to the ruling, four lynx have been reported as trapped between January 2012 and February 2014. A trapper targeting bobcats in 2012 trapped a juvenile lynx in a foothold trap and shot and killed it while mistaking it for a bobcat. In the other cases, the trapped lynx were released alive.

The federal court order follows a 2014 lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, WildEarth Guardians, Western Watersheds Project, and Friends of the Clearwater against the Idaho Department of Fish and Wildlife, the department’s commissioners and Gov. Butch Otter for allowing trapping in lynx habitat. Defendants in the federal court order again name Otter as well as Virgil Moore, director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game; and Brad Corkill, Fred Trevey, Bob Barowsky, Mark Doerr, Randy Budge, Kenny Anderson and Will Naillon, members of the Idaho Fish and Game Commission.

Mike Keckler, bureau chief of communications for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, confirmed that the judge did issue the order and that IDFG is working on a plan to submit within the 90 days. He said the judge is urging IDFG to work with the plaintiffs named in the order to find a satisfactory solution, but he was limited in what he could say to the media.

"The only thing I can tell you at this point is that we are still studying the judge's order and therefore have no comment at this point," Keckler said.

"This decision marks a huge step toward restoring Canada lynx to their rightful habitat in the West," said Pete Frost, an attorney with the Western Environmental Law Center. "These barbaric trapping methods must be changed to protect our treasured iconic cat not just in Idaho, but throughout lynx territory."

The Canada lynx is generally 30-35 inches long and weighs 14-31 pounds with grizzled gray fur. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "the lynx’s large, well-furred paws, long, black ear tufts, and short, black-tipped tail distinguish it from the bobcat." They are elusive, dine primarily on snowshoe hare, live in snowy, wooded areas and have been documented to live as long as 16 years in the wild.