Critical Habitat for Canada Lynx

From the Missoulian: "By Nov. 1, the agency has to decide whether or not to designate thousands of acres as critical habitat for the federally threatened Canada lynx.

"Between now and then, Fish and Wildlife Service officials need to sift through a whole new batch of comments on a recently released economic analysis - and decide on a request by Plum Creek Timber Co. to exclude nearly 1 million acres of private timberlands in Montana and Maine."

Information on the proposed critical habitat designation is available from the Mountain-Prairie Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The draft economic analysis and environmental assessment are linked from the critical habitat page. Comments may be submitted by October 11, 2006, electronically to FW6_Lynx@fws.gov or by regular mail to the following address:
Lynx
US Fish and Wildlife Service - Montana Field Office
585 Shepard Way
Helena, MT 59601

Additional FWS Canada lynx information can be found on the Mountain-Prairie Canada lynx site and on the FWS endangered species site for the Canada lynx.

To learn more about Plum Creek Timber Company, visit their website.

Source: Backus, Perry. "Plum Creek seeks exemption from lynx critical habitat designation." Missoulian September 19, 2006. A1.