Conservation Northwest

Homecoming for wildlife Dave Werntz Science and conservation director, dwerntz@conservationnw.org Eyes on the future Canada lynx It was starting to look pretty grim. After five seasons of sustained effort, researchers in north central Washington's lynx stronghold had trapped and collared a mere twelve Canada lynx, and only one was female. In the previous two decades, fires had burned through more than half of the lynx habitat in the area, including the state's most extensive and productive sites. Conditions for snowshoe hare, a key food source for lynx, are poor immediately after fire. The next year, things started to turn around. Three of four lynx captured were females and scientists observed successful reproduction. Canada lynx were hanging tough. Lynx Management Zones Lynx Habitat and Potential Recovery Area Lynx management zones and other potential lynx recovery areas in Washington. From State of Washington Lynx Recovery Plan, March 2001 But it raised the question: Are we doing enough to sustain Canada lynx populations in Washington over the long term, especially under a changing climate? Washington's best lynx habitat spreads from the northeast slopes of the Cascades across the Kettle Range to the west flanks of the Rocky Mountains in northeast Washington. While lynx are consistently documented in the Cascades, they are observed only intermittently in the Kettles and the Wedge despite historic records of lynx occurrence, recent evidence of reproduction, and vast tracts of suitable habitat. More lynx were taken in the Kettle Range between 1961 and 1984 (the years when state trapping records were compiled) than any other part of the state. The Wedge and much of the Little Pend Oreille recorded the third highest number. Keeping the Northwest wild Female lynx, north-central Washington. WDNR Fourth place goes to the Salmo-Priest. While lynx detections are sporadic, state biologists detected lynx in the Kettle Range as recently as 2007, and have documented lynx presence 26 times since 1990, including one juvenile. As many as 400 square miles of suitable lynx habitat occurs in the Kettle Range. The Kettles support relatively high densities of snowshoe hares, resulting from fires about 20 years ago. Based on that information, lynx experts estimated that the Kettles are capable of supporting up to two dozen lynx. If the Kettle Range has great habitat and food source, why aren't lynx populations booming? State and federal scientists believe the recent scarcity of lynx sightings in the Kettle Range is the result of over trapping in the 1960s and '70s. They also believe that the probability of lynx colonizing the Kettle Range from British Columbia is low, because of barriers to dispersal, and recommend that lynx reintroduction be considered. Lynx habitat in the Kettle Range provides important habitat connectivity between Cascade and Rocky Mountain lynx populations. Both the Okanogan population and the northeast Washington populations likely depend on genetic and demographic interchange, and occasional immigration from Canada, for long-term persistence. Conservation Northwest takes this all to heart. We filed petitions in 1991 to gain state and federal protections for lynx and its habitat under endangered species laws. In 1998, we raised $16.5 million to protect 25,000 acres of prime lynx habitat in the Loomis State Forest. When development threatened habitat connectivity between the Cascades and Kettles, we took steps to maintain key linkages. Looking ahead, we're exploring the feasibility of moving lynx to the Kettle Range, as this is an essential step to ensure its long-term viability in the Pacific Northwest. Fall 2013 9

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