Canada Lynx on the Border: Biological and Political Realities for Conservation Planning

Transcription

1 Canada Lynx on the Border: Biological and Political Realities for Conservation Planning Workshop Objective Identify, discuss, and prioritize factors affecting Canada lynx conservation along the U.S.-Canada border At the U.S.-Canada border, Canada lynx make the transition from a harvested furbearer to a threatened species. The workshop organizers believe that lynx conservation efforts should benefit from increased communication and cooperation between managers and researchers on both sides of the border. The objectives of this workshop are to: 1) to examine our current knowledge of lynx biology and ecology along the U.S.-Canada border, 2) to review current lynx research and management strategies at the national, regional, and local scales, and 3) to explore opportunities for advancing lynx conservation through cooperative activities between Canadian and U.S. managers and researchers. An International Workshop in Grand Portage, Minnesota, USA 24 to 27 October 2007 Program and Abstract Booklet

2 Table of Contents Workshop Objective... i Program and Abstract Booklet...i Table of Contents... ii Conference and Program Committee... iii Workshop Sponsors... iii Program Agenda...1 Abstracts...3 Bertram and Claar: The Northern Rockies lynx management direction...3 Bowman: Lynx management and research in Ontario...3 Burdett et al.: Modeling the space use and habitat selection of lynx at multiple spatial scales...3 Catton and Shedd: A snow tracking protocol to survey and monitor lynx (Lynx canadensis) populations on the Superior National Forest, Minnesota...4 Dawson and Van Den Broeck: Lynx harvest and management in the border districts of Northwestern Ontario...5 Erb: Status of terrestrial carnivores in Minnesota s lynx range...5 Fanson et al.: Hormonal profiles of captive and free-ranging lynx...6 Fuller and Harrison: Foraging paths reveal scale-dependent habitat decisions by Canada lynx...6 Hansen et al.: Assessing detection levels in multiple models of passive infrared triggered trail cameras...6 Harrison et al.: Temporal and spatial variation in snowshoe hare densities in eastern North America: relationships to lynx and forest management...7 Hornseth et al.: Habitat suitability model for Canada lynx in the southern boreal forest of Ontario...8 Kohler: Lynx track surveys and telemetry studies in Washington: Kohler: Status of lynx in Washington: consequences of forest disease, wildfires, timber harvest, and global climate change?...8 Krohn and Simons: Using historical data to determine the contemporary distributions of Canada lynx: a cautionary note...9 Loch et al.: Distribution of Canada lynx and lynx-bobcat hybrids in northern Minnesota from non-random sampling...9 McCollough: Recovery strategies for lynx on private forest lands in Maine...10 ii

3 Moen et al.: Movement patterns of lynx in Minnesota...10 Moore et al.: Identification of suitable habitat for Canada lynx Bizhiw in the Grand Portage area and northeastern Minnesota within 1854 Ceded Territories...11 Murray: Can snowshoe hare population assessment supplant standard lynx habitat selection studies?...11 Niemi and Johnson: Review of wildlife and climate change in the upper Midwestern United States...12 Palakovich Carr et al.: Validating activity counters in GPS collars...12 Ray: The promises and pitfalls of transboundary cooperation: lessons learned from lynx...12 Sartorius and Delphey: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is revising the Canada lynx critical habitat designation under the Endangered Species Act...12 Shenk: Movement patterns and demography of lynx reintroduced to Colorado...13 Simons et al.: Ecological factors associated with landscape-scale occurrence of Canada lynx in northern Maine...13 Squires and DeCesare: The population viability of lynx in western Montana...14 Vashon et al.: Reproduction and mortality of an eastern United States lynx population in an intensively managed private forest landscape...15 Wigley: Forest products industry: perspectives, challenges, and future directions...15 Wydeven et al.: Lynx and other carnivore monitoring in Wisconsin...15 Yates and Boyce: Evaluating the influence of dispersal and seasonality on lynx dynamics in western Canada...16 Maps...17 Field Trip...17 Ron Moen Rich Baker Dennis Murray Jennifer Vashon Justina Ray Jeff Bowman Conference and Program Committee Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Trent University Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Wildlife Conservation Society Canada Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Workshop Sponsors U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Section 6 funds Grand Portage Band meeting facilities Grand Portage National Monument meeting facilities Natural Resources Research Institute office support iii

4 Program Agenda Wednesday October 24 14:30 Opening session Workshop background and expectations 15:15 Break Research papers I 15:30 A. Wydeven, J. Wiedenhoft, R. Schultz Lynx and other carnivore monitoring in Wisconsin 15:50 S. Loch, E. Lindquist, M. Schwartz, K. Pilgrim Distribution of Canada lynx and lynx-bobcat hybrids in northern Minnesota as determined by non-random sampling T. Catton, M. Shedd A snow tracking protocol to survey and monitor lynx (Lynx canadensis) 16:10 populations on the Superior National Forest, Minnesota 16:30 G. Koehler Lynx track surveys and telemetry studies in Washington: :50 Lynx capture techniques Video and Discussion Thursday October 25 Research papers II 8:20 J. Palakovich Carr, R. Moen, G. Niemi Validating activity counters in GPS collars 8:40 E. Simons, M.L. Robinson, D. J. Harrison, W. B. Krohn, K. R. Legaard Ecological factors associated with landscape-scale occurrence of Canada lynx in northern Maine W. Krohn, E. Simons Using historical data to determine the contemporary distributions of Canada 9:00 lynx: a cautionary note 9:20 N. Dawson, J. Vandenbroeck Lynx harvest and management in the border districts of northwestern Ontario 9:40 Break 10:00 10:20 10:40 B. Hansen, R. Moen, G. Niemi Assessing detection levels in multiple models of passive infrared triggered trail cameras G. Yates, M.S. Boyce Evaluating effect of dispersal and seasonality on lynx dynamics in western Canada K. Fanson, N.C. Wielebnowski, J.R. Lucas Hormonal profiles of captive and free-ranging lynx 11:00 GPS collars -- expectations and reality Welcome/workshop introduction/goals 13:00 R. Baker, R. Moen Welcome: Logistics, workshop introduction 13:10 R. Baker Workshop goal: Management collaboration 13:20 D. Murray, J. Ray, J. Bowman, R. Moen Workshop goal: Research collaboration 13:40 14:00 14:20 R. Moen, M. L. Nelson, C. L. Burdett, G. Niemi M. Hornseth, J. Bowman, J. C. Ray, D. L. Murray C. Burdett, R. Moen, G. Niemi, L. D. Mech Workshop session I Movement patterns of lynx in Minnesota Habitat suitability model for Canada lynx in the southern boreal forest of Ontario Modeling the space use and habitat selection of lynx at multiple spatial scales 14:40 T. Shenk Movement patterns and demography of lynx reintroduced to Colorado 15:00 Break Thursday afternoon sessions continued on next page 1

5 Workshop session II 15:20 J.R. Squires, N.J. DeCesare The population viability of lynx in western Montana 15:40 16:00 16:20 Adjourn J. Vashon Reproduction and mortality of an eastern United States lynx population in an intensively managed private forest landscape S. Moore, R. Moen, N. McCann Identification of suitable habitat for Canada lynx -- Bizhiw -- in the Grand Portage area and northeastern Minnesota within 1854 Ceded Territories 18:30 Evening social with traditional feast Friday October 26 8:20 8:40 Workshop session III D. Murray Can snowshoe hare population assessment supplant standard lynx habitat selection studies? D. Harrison, W. Krohn, L. Robinson, S. Scott, A. Fuller, C. Hoving Temporal and spatial variation in snowshoe hare densities in eastern North America: relationships to lynx and forest management 9:00 A. Fuller, D. Harrison Foraging paths reveal scale-dependent habitat decisions by Canada lynx 9:20 M. McCollough Recovery strategies for lynx on private forest lands in Maine 9:40 B. Wigley The forest products industry: perspectives, challenges, and future directions 10:00 G.J. Niemi, L. Johnson Review of wildlife and climate change in the Upper Midwestern United States 10:20 Break Workshop session IV 10:40 T. Bertram, J. Claar The Northern Rockies lynx management direction S. Sartorius, P. Delphey U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is revising the Canada lynx critical habitat 11:00 designation under the Endangered Species Act 11:20 J. Erb Status of terrestrial carnivores in Minnesota s lynx range 11:40 J. Bowman Lynx management and research in Ontario 12:00 G. Koehler Status of lynx in Washington: consequences of forest disease, wildfires, timber harvest, and global climate change? 12:20 J. Ray Promises and pitfalls of transboundary cooperation: lessons learned from lynx 12:40 Adjourn for lunch Workshop session V 13:40 R. Moen Reaction: What we know about lynx movement 13:50 J. Squires Reaction: What we know about lynx reproduction and mortality 14:00 D. Murray Reaction: What we know about lynx habitat and prey 14:10 R. Baker Reaction: Management, regulations, and interactions 14:30 15:30 Break 15:50 Moderator: R. Baker Moderators: D. Murray, J. Vashon 16:50 Adjourn Facilitated discussion: Opportunities for international collaborative management Facilitated discussion: Opportunities for international collaborative management Saturday October 27 Wrap-up and field trip 8:00 Open meeting to discuss report arising from workshop discussions 9:30 Depart for field trip from Hotel 2

6 Abstracts The Northern Rockies lynx management direction Tim Bertram, Jim Claar United States Forest Service, Montana Management of Canada lynx habitat on the national forests in the Northern Rocky Mountains (NRM) of the coterminous Unites States has been guided by the Lynx Conservation Assessment and Strategy (LCAS) since The main reason that Canada lynx were listed in the U.S. as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was that there was a lack of adequate regulatory mechanisms to conserve Canada lynx in the National Forest Land and Resource Management Plans (LRMPs). A conservation agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, first signed in 2000, contained a provision that the national forests would use the LCAS as guidance until the LRMPs of the various forests were amended to address the issue of the lack of adequate regulatory mechanisms in the LRMPs. Since the LCAS was completed additional new research on lynx and lynx habitat relationships has been completed in the NRM. This research was incorporated into management direction that addresses the issue of the lack of adequate regulatory mechanisms in LRMPs and promotes the conservation and recovery of Canada lynx in the NRM of the U.S. This management direction, known as the Northern Rockies Lynx Management Direction, was incorporated into the LRMPs of eighteen national forests. The background leading to this effort and some key elements of the management direction are discussed. Lynx management and research in Ontario Jeff Bowman Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Canada In response to numerous overharvested furbearer species, Ontario instituted a registered trapline system for fur harvests in This system results in trappers being licensed in a traditional trapping area, and is thought to provide some self regulation through trapper stewardship. Since the institution of this system, many furbearer species in Ontario have recovered from low population levels. In addition to registered traplines, many districts in the province employ quota-based harvest management systems. The decision to use quotas in the province is made at the district level, and is based on a variety of information, such as local insight into population trends, local trapper activity, prices, and phase of the population for cyclic species. For lynx (Lynx canadensis), sustainable yields (and hence quotas) have been estimated historically through trial and error. Many districts in the province currently seek better quantitative estimates of sustainable yields as well as improved information on the amplitude and frequency of lynx fluctuations in the region. These areas are the subject of current and future research activities, including estimating both snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) and lynx densities at different phases of the cycle, and estimating age structure of harvested lynx. We are also interested in identifying the habitats used by lynx, particularly at cyclic lows. Modeling the space use and habitat selection of lynx at multiple spatial scales Christopher L. Burdett, Ron A. Moen, Gerald J. Niemi, L. David Mech University of Minnesota Duluth, United States Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division The habitat requirements of the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) are poorly understood in many regions of the conterminous U.S. and this deficiency was a key reason why the species was listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. For example, the habitat requirements of lynx had never been studied in Minnesota, despite a consistent historical record of lynx presence in the state. Habitat selection in most species is best studied at multiple spatial scales so that fine-scale habitat use can be related to the coarse spatial scales used for management planning. We studied the space use and habitat selection of Canada lynx in Minnesota from using global positioning system (GPS) collars. Male lynx in Minnesota had larger home ranges and core areas than female lynx. Most of the females we studied had kittens and their restricted movements produced relatively small home-range sizes that were similar to those from northern lynx populations. The larger home-range sizes of our males may result from the more dispersed distribution of breeding females in southern lynx populations. Lynx in Minnesota preyed almost exclusively on snowshoe hares and sites used for hunting and resting were associated with the year-old regenerating forests that supported the most abundant hare populations in our study area. At fine-scales, lynx movements were characterized by selection for regenerating forests and forest edges. Lynx established territories in areas with abundant regenerating forests and then intensively used these 3

7 forests within their territories. Lynx use of forest edges was primarily associated with increased selection for the edges between regenerating and mature upland-conifer forests. Lynx use of forest edges may result from the difficulty that lynx have hunting in the well-developed understories characteristic of regenerating forests. Most lynx selected against mature lowland-conifer forests but breeding females often established dens in these forests and continued to use them until their kittens were approximately 5-8 months old, presumably because of the greater availability of ground-level cover in these forests. At a landscape-scale, spatial heterogeneity was a key determinant of where lynx placed their territories, particularly for breeding females. Lynx in Minnesota showed a positive response to smaller patch sizes, edge density, patch diversity, and the interspersion of key forest types. Lynx appear to respond to landscape-scale spatial heterogeneity similarly to several other felid species, including the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus). Our results suggest that forest management for lynx should not only provide a sufficient amount of regenerating forest, but also consider the spatial pattern of key forest types. Forest management that mimics the fire-dominated disturbance regime that historically prevailed in northeastern Minnesota would appear to benefit the regional conservation and persistence of lynx. A snow tracking protocol to survey and monitor lynx (Lynx canadensis) populations on the Superior National Forest, Minnesota Timothy J. Catton, Mary Shedd USDA Forest Service, Superior National Forest The recovery outline for the contiguous U.S. distinct population segment (DPS) of the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) designates northeastern Minnesota as a core area, the role of which includes maintaining sufficient number of populations and individuals to ensure continued persistence of lynx in the contiguous U.S. Monitoring of lynx populations is identified as an action necessary to attain recovery objectives. As a federal land management agency, the Superior National Forest is required by regulation, law, and policy to carry out programs for recovery of, and to monitor the effects of its management actions on, federally listed species. In an effort to fulfill these requirements we are currently developing a long term snow-tracking protocol to survey and monitor lynx populations on the Superior National Forest. With fluctuating budgets and resultant limited staff and shortfalls in equipment, a cost-effective and practical method is needed. This protocol incorporates existing lynx analysis units (LAUs) on the forest as well as methods and techniques from current literature. The Lynx Conservation Assessment and Strategy defines LAUs as the fundamental landscape scale with which to evaluate and monitor effects of management actions on lynx habitat. Therefore, LAUs are categorized as Priority I Areas for snow-tracking surveys. Permanent snow-tracking routes are delineated within each LAU. These routes are designed to meet the minimum route density of 10 km per 64km2 grid (approximately 2.0 miles of survey per 5,000 acres) as described by Squires et al. (2004). Several of these LAUs, spatially distributed across the forest, are designated as key LAUs. The criteria for key LAU designation are: known lynx presence (past or current), a relatively high quantity and/or quality of suitable lynx habitat as delineated by GIS modeling, adequate access for surveyors, and additional local knowledge of relatively high quality of habitat. The snow-tracking routes within these key LAUs (termed primary survey routes) are to be surveyed annually, and run three to four times during a snow-tracking season. GPS track logs will be maintained for each survey effort. When putative lynx tracks are encountered a GPS point will be obtained. As conditions permit, these presumed lynx tracks will be followed in an effort to collect genetic material for DNA analysis. In addition to the Primary Survey Routes, 2 additional snow-tracking surveys may be conducted. Secondary Survey Routes are conducted in mid-level analysis areas (60-100,000 acre areas of potential Forest Service vegetation management projects) to address site-specific lynx presence questions. The third type, Opportunistic Survey Route, is conducted to augment Secondary Survey Routes, follow up on reported lynx sightings, and/or fulfill additional local survey needs. Protocols for these two types of survey routes vary slightly from those of the Primary Survey Route. For all three types there is additional methodology that allows for the collection of locational data of relative levels of competitor/ predator and prey species densities. Data collected from surveys, including data with or without DNA analysis, will be used to develop population indices, to examine species persistence and distribution within LAUs and across the forest, and, to the extent possible, to address questions of hybridization and competition. This will allow the Forest Service to consider lynx recovery while managing the national forest. 4

8 Lynx harvest and management in the border districts of Northwestern Ontario Neil Dawson, John Vandenbroeck Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Lynx harvests and management actions are summarized for the four OMNR administrative districts (Fort Frances, Thunder Bay, Kenora and Dryden) which border Minnesota. Average annual harvests generally declined from the 1970s through the 1990s with an increase during the early 2000s. Fluctuations in annual lynx harvest levels varied by administrative district during this 30-year period. Spatial distribution of the harvest over time will be discussed. Harvest levels have been managed by the setting of harvest quotas in some districts and the various approaches will be discussed. Status of terrestrial carnivores in Minnesota s lynx range John Erb Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Numerous potential lynx competitors, specifically wolves, red and gray fox, coyotes, bobcat, fisher, and marten, are present within the forested portion of Minnesota considered to be core or secondary lynx range. While population estimates are not available for red fox, gray fox, or coyotes, northern Minnesota is home to an estimated pre-breeding population of 3,000 wolves, 2,700 bobcats, 8,000 fisher, and 10,000 marten. As a likely result of competition with wolves, coyotes generally occur at low density in northern Minnesota while red fox are widely distributed and abundant. Gray fox, apparently expanding their range northward, remain relatively uncommon in much of northeastern Minnesota. Throughout North America, direct killing of lynx by several of these species (e.g., fisher, wolves, coyotes) has been documented. In addition, food habits data from Minnesota indicates that snowshoe hare is a key food source for coyotes, fox, bobcat, and fisher, and prey switching behavior, driven by the phase of the hare cycle, is also evident for several species. Research on various cyclic species throughout the world suggests that exploitative competition with prey-switching generalists can affect the population dynamics of specialist predators like the lynx. Nevertheless, while exploitative and interference competition between lynx and several other Minnesota carnivores certainly occurs, the quantitative effects of this competition on lynx dynamics are poorly understood. While wolves do not appear to significantly compete with lynx, little is known about whether wolves harass or otherwise affect energetics or space use of lynx. Wolf density in northern Minnesota may be greater now than historically, and greater than in most other areas of lynx range. Nevertheless, the greatest effect of wolves on lynx may be indirect and positive, by reducing density of coyotes. Bobcats, in spite of great potential for food competition and possible aggression toward lynx, do not significantly overlap in distribution with the core lynx areas in Minnesota, even following the significant increase in bobcat populations over the last six years. It remains unclear, however, whether the southern extent of lynx range is limited by competition with bobcats, and to what extent bobcat range may expand northward in the future. Fishers are common throughout core lynx range, though possibly at lower density in the deepest snow areas. Past data clearly indicates that hares are an important component of their diet, and fishers have been documented to directly kill lynx. Red fox and American marten also consume snowshoe hares, though hares appear to be an infrequent component of the marten s diet in Minnesota. While some exploitative competition may occur between these two species and lynx, any interference competition that occurs likely favors lynx. While it is easier to document direct killing of lynx by a specific competitor and thus be tempted to single out the most significant competitor, I suggest that less obvious forms of competition (e.g., space use competition, exploitative competition with preyswitching generalists) may be as likely to affect the observed dynamics of lynx populations in Minnesota. It may be the collective density of generalist carnivores, not any single species, which has the greatest competition-mediated effect on lynx dynamics. Even so, competition may be neither the primary limiting factor for lynx in Minnesota, nor the primary factor influencing patterns of population fluctuation. 5

9 Hormonal profiles of captive and freeranging lynx Kerry V.P. Fanson, Nadja C. Wielebnowski, Jeffrey R. Lucas Purdue University, Conservation Science, Brookfield Zoo The paradox of reintroductions is that the translocation of individual animals (which is intended to establish a new population) may cause a decrease in individual reproduction and survival rates, thereby threatening the success of the reintroduction. However, the specific mechanisms underlying this decrease in reproduction and survival are unclear. The objective of this study is to examine some of the potential physiological mechanisms that may underlie an observed decrease in reproduction for Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) post-reintroduction. We compared reproductive and stress (glucocorticoid, GC) hormone profiles in captive, naturally-occurring, and reintroduced lynx populations using the technique of fecal hormone analysis. Because this technique is non-invasive, it is valuable for monitoring the physiology of threatened or endangered species, like lynx. Preliminary data indicate that the reintroduced lynx in holding pens have much higher GC levels than captive or naturally-occurring lynx. However, after they are released, GC levels in males decline, suggesting that they adjust to their new environment relatively quickly. Males also show appropriate seasonal changes in androgen expression after they are released. Female reproductive hormones have been difficult to assay, so we have less data from females, but some of our preliminary results will be presented. This project will ultimately contribute to our understanding of how physiological changes may impact the outcome of reintroduction efforts. Foraging paths reveal scale-dependent habitat decisions by Canada lynx Angela K. Fuller, Daniel J. Harrison University of Maine, Orono We documented the relative grain at which Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) perceive habitat by evaluating fractal dimension of foraging paths and evaluated whether lynx expended greater foraging effort (i.e., greater fractal dimension of movement paths) in areas with the greatest density of snowshoe hares (prey density), or whether lynx foraged in areas with intermediate densities of hares where lower stem densities and greater visibility during winter promoted increased capture success of hares (prey access). Lynx foraged in stands with intermediatehigh hare density and intermediate cover for hares (i.e., prey access) as evidenced by the greatest fractal dimension of paths in tall ( m) regenerating (11-26 years post-harvest) clearcuts and established partially-harvested stands (11-21 years post-harvest). Within stands, lynx moved through areas with lower stem densities and a greater percent of skid trails than occurred within home ranges, likely an attempt to maximize time where understory cover is reduced to facilitate increased capture success of snowshoe hares. Lynx attempted to maximize access to prey rather than their exposure to habitats with highest prey density and optimal escape cover for hares. Movement paths were more tortuous at broader scales, suggesting that lynx were exhibiting stronger coarse-grained (i.e., scales > 65 m) than fine-grained habitat decisions and that higher fractal dimension of movement paths reduced the number of transitions between stands of higher and lower foraging quality. Lynx made their strongest foraging decisions when exhibiting second- and third-order resource selection, so focusing management to alter sub-stand scale structure may be less effective than creating standand landscape-scale conditions that enhance foraging success of lynx. Coarse-grained habitat selection (i.e., 2nd and 3rd order choices) by wide ranging species may reduce the importance of fine-scale conservation efforts and emphasizes the importance of management targeted at home range quality and maintaining viable landscapes. Assessing detection levels in multiple models of passive infrared triggered trail cameras Brice Hansen, Ron Moen, Gerald Niemi University of Minnesota Duluth Passive, infrared cameras are becoming increasingly common in studies of animal behavior and ecology. We evaluated whether camera brand, ambient temperature, animal size, or movement speed affected capture rates. Heated cut-outs corresponding to body sizes of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), and red-backed vole (Clethrionomys gapperi) were pulled at multiple speeds and distances past 8 models of currently available passive infrared cameras. Capture rate was influenced by model of camera, object size, speed, and distance from the cameras. Significant interactions which we believe were caused in part by camera design were found for camera*distance, camera*speed, distance*speed, distance*speed, and size*speed. Choice of camera model, often driven by the costs of different cameras, will affect the capture 6

10 rate. In addition, planning of site set-up based on study species and expected movement patterns could probably increase capture rates in some passive, infrared cameras. Temporal and spatial variation in snowshoe hare densities in eastern North America: relationships to lynx and forest management D.J. Harrison, W.B. Krohn, L. Robinson, S. Scott, A. K. Fuller, C.L. Hoving University of Maine, Orono The snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) is a keystone species in northern regions of North America. Within-stand habitat preferences of hares have been widely studied and show preference for dense understory structure; however, habitat selection may vary across ecological scales. Multi-scalar investigations of habitat ecology provide unique insights into factors influencing distribution and density of hares across the larger landscapes utilized by mammalian carnivores that are hare obligates. We documented stand-type specific densities of hares and modeled the relative effects of broad-scale habitat variables on relative abundances of hares across 1- km 2 landscapes. We also evaluated the influences of composition and structural attributes of vegetation on hare densities and habitat use at stand and substand scales. At the landscape scale, abundance of hares was positively associated with the extent of regenerating forest and forested wetland, and negatively associated with the extent of mature deciduous forest. This corroborated density estimates indicating that hare densities were an order of magnitude higher in regenerating, conifer clearcuts than in mature stands. Hare densities at the stand scale were most strongly influenced by densities of regenerating conifer stems (+). Similarly, substand scale habitat use by hares was most strongly influenced by understory stem cover (+) and residual canopy cover (-) in the stand. During the period , annual overwinter densities of hares in optimal habitat were high (approximately 2 hares/ha) and remained temporally stable (range hares/ha); however, hare densities within preferred stands declined to < 1 hare/ha during the winter of Prior to 2007, our data supported previous assertions that hares may not cycle in the southeastern portion of their range. Further, our data suggest that population fluctuations are synchronous throughout the range of the lynx in northern Maine. Average hare densities were lowest (< 0.3 per ha) in mature stands that had been selectively harvested 3-4 years previously and in uncut mature deciduous, mature coniferous, and mature-mixed stands. Intermediate densities ( per ha) of hares were observed in insect-killed mature stands, in longerestablished partial harvests, and in precommercially thinned clearcuts. High (>1.6 per ha) hare densities were observed in stands that had been clearcut years previously and which were subsequently treated with herbicides to control competing hardwood regeneration. This suggests that hare densities may remain elevated for a longer time period following forest harvesting than had previously been assumed. Companion studies of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) indicate that lynx exhibit broad-scale selection for areas with deepest snow, position home ranges in areas dominated by stand types supporting the highest hare densities, but exhibit stand- and substand-scale selection for areas with intermediate hare densities and suboptimal understory stem cover for hares. Co-evolution has resulted in similar habitat selection patterns by predator and prey at broader scales, but coexistence is likely enhanced by differences in optimal habitat conditions for lynx and hares at the stand and substand scales. 7

11 Habitat suitability model for Canada lynx in the southern boreal forest of Ontario Megan L Hornseth, Jeff Bowman, Justina C. Ray, Dennis L. Murray Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) populations currently are declining at the southern extent of their range as a consequence of habitat fragmentation due to anthropogenic disturbances. A better understanding of the connectivity between core and peripheral lynx habitat, and the role of immigration by northern lynx in bolstering populations in the southern range, is needed to mitigate effects of range loss at the distributional edge. This project addresses lynx conservation at its southern range limit by developing and validating a lynx habitat suitability model for the southern boreal forest of Ontario, with potential for application in surrounding areas with similar forest structure. The habitat suitability model was constructed using lynx fur returns from the Ontario trapline harvest data, with habitat classes developed from Forest Resource Inventory data. Models were developed using logistic regression and using standard model selection and multi-model inferencing procedures. The model identifies forest cover attributes and snowfall as primary determinants of lynx occurrence; further application of the model will serve to identify i) the southern range boundary in Ontario, ii) core lynx habitat, iii) current dispersal corridors, and iv) critical areas for population connectivity between core and peripheral lynx populations. Ultimately, this project will provide biologically-based recommendations for lynx conservation planning along the southernmost border of its range. Lynx track surveys and telemetry studies in Washington: Gary M. Koehler Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife A wild fire burned more than 175,000 acres (700 km2) in Okanogan County where research in the 1980s indicated there were 2.3 lynx/100km2. Kitten production has been documented in this population during the past 2 decades. This area comprised the most contiguous habitat (Englemann spruce, subalpine fir, and lodgepole pine) for lynx in Washington. Beginning December of 2006 we conducted track surveys and capture efforts to mark lynx to determine the status of lynx in the area following the fire. We recorded lynx tracks during winter within the burn perimeter < 3 months after the fire. We captured 2 male lynx and marked them with GPS store-on-board collars. The area occupied by these males was 18 and 61 km2 during the < 30 days their movements were monitored. One male died and the collar of the other either malfunctioned or the lynx dispersed beyond our aerial telemetry search. We will continue with snow track surveys during the winter of and will attempt to capture and collar additional lynx. Status of lynx in Washington: consequences of forest disease, wildfires, timber harvest, and global climate change? Gary M. Koehler Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Records show lynx populations have persisted in Washington for >5 decades. Wild fires and timber harvesting have changed the forest stand conditions preferred by lynx. Since 1985 >50% of the Englemann spruce, subalpine fire and lodgepole pine forests in the north-central Cascade Range have burned; an area where lynx populations and reproduction has been documented consistently during the past 2 decades. Current forest insect and disease conditions suggest that forests occupied by lynx may continue to be displaced in the near future. The recently burned areas do not provide adequate conditions for snowshoe hares or lynx. Fragmented habitats and probabilities for global climate change suggest an uncertain future for lynx in Washington. 8

12 Using historical data to determine the contemporary distributions of Canada lynx: a cautionary note William B. Krohn, Erin Simons Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Maine, Orono A recently published paper outlined a four-step process for inferring the distributions of wildlife species in the absence of occurrence records, using Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) as one of the two examples. The paper outlined the major problems associated with determining the reliability of occurrence records, including the importance of identifying suitable habitat and evaluating temporal variation in distribution. The author, however, failed to determine which factors defined suitable habitat, and did not assess whether the factor(s) constituting suitable habitat were spatially and temporally stable. Without those supporting assessments, the paper s conclusion that the mountains of north-central New Mexico are within the natural range of lynx must be viewed cautiously. Furthermore, we argue that historical and contemporary occurrence records are not interchangeable, and propose a more structured approach for the use of historical occurrence data. The first step of our approach is to obtain a representative sample of current occurrences and non-occurrences throughout the area of interest. Next, statistical models are used to identify habitat variables associated with suitability. Third, assuming that one or more of the major habitat variables has consistently changed over time, predict past distributions patterns based on the direction of change and the hypothesized relationship between the habitat variable(s) and the species. To illustrate this approach, we review the current and past distributions of Canada lynx in eastern North America relative to our current broad-scale understanding of lynx habitat relationships, giving special attention to the species southern range limit in Maine. Habitat models have shown that total annual snowfall (positively related) and bobcat occurrence (negatively related) are key factors influencing the occurrence of lynx in Maine at the regional and state scales. Because climate has moderated since the end of the Little Holocene, we predicted that Canada lynx were historically more widely distributed in eastern North America than currently. Historical information supports this prediction, documenting the occurrence of Canada lynx throughout the interior forests of New England and New York, and as far south as central Pennsylvania through the early 1800s. We also present contemporary, township data from standardized surveys to show the current distributions of lynx and bobcat in Maine. These distributions are compared to total annual snowfall estimates (current and potential futures), and suggest that the southern edge of lynx range in the East will likely retreat north with climate warming. From these comparisons, and the historical review, we conclude that it is unreasonable to assume that a species range was, or will remain, stable. To reliably inform recovery and management planning, biologists must not only have knowledge of the processes affecting the occurrence of Canada lynx at multiple scales, but must also understand the spatial and temporal dynamics of those processes. Distribution of Canada lynx and lynx-bobcat hybrids in northern Minnesota as determined by non-random sampling Steve Loch, Ed Lindquist, Michael Schwartz, Kristine Pilgrim U.S. Forest Service, Minnesota, retired, and Carnivore Genetics Laboratory, USFS, Montana Presence, distribution, and abundance of Canada lynx (Lynx Canadensis) in Minnesota were unknown after federal listing in March DNA can be extracted from scat and hair samples, and genotyped to identify individuals. In late winter , we began snow tracking lynx in northeastern Minnesota to obtain genetic samples. Carcasses of protected species are sometimes surrendered to resource agencies. Tissue samples were obtained across northern Minnesota from lynx that had been killed and surrendered to agencies. Since 2002, using various methods, we have documented the occurrence of 71 lynx and 4 unique lynx-bobcat hybrids. We discuss the distribution of lynx and hybrids identified in this study, as well as limitations and implications of a non-random sampling effort. In March 2003, the Natural Resource Research Institute began collecting genetic samples from felids captured for radio-marking, kittens at dens, and by following snow tracks. We reviewed those genotypes and observed 61 lynx and one unique hybrid. Twenty-five lynx were common to both studies. Currently, by consolidating results of the two studies, a total of 107 unique lynx and 5 unique lynx-bobcat hybrids have been identified, primarily in northeastern Minnesota. Eighty-two lynx were identified from samples collected from specimens or free roaming lynx, and 25 from kittens at dens; 8 of the later were detected again after reaching an age of at least eight months. 9

13 Recovery strategies for lynx on private forest lands in Maine Mark McCollough U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Maine Important objectives of the Service's Canada lynx recovery plan outline are to develop and implement best management practices and long-term management agreements for lynx with key state, private, and tribal forest managers, maintain inventories of lynx habitat in core areas, and monitor lynx use of these habitats. These objectives are well underway on core lynx habitats on federal lands in the west and Great Lakes regions, but until recently had not been addressed on private forest lands in Maine. The Service's critical habitat proposal in 2006 prompted discussion between the Service and private forest landowners in Maine. The Service encouraged landowners to develop management plans to benefit lynx, and thus possibly be excluded from critical habitat designation. The Maine Forest Products Council, an industry trade group representing most of the forest landowners in the 6.4 million acres proposed for critical habitat, developed a strategy for conservation of lynx habitat. This strategy would help the Service achieve the recovery objectives of monitoring habitat and lynx populations. Ultimately, all of northern Maine was excluded from critical habitat and landowners are working with the Service, state, and University of Maine to implement the provisions within the strategy. Rapidly changing land ownership and changes in forest practices (partial harvesting vs. clearcutting) represent significant challenges to maintaining the abundant lynx habitat that exists today. Given the differences in forest management and policy and lynx ecology in the West vs. the Northeast, Maine forest industry refrained from adopting the Lynx Conservation Assessment and Strategy implemented on federal lands as best management guidance. The Service developed 5 outcome-based guidelines in a best management practices document "Canada Lynx Habitat Management Guidelines for Maine." Forest industry and the Service continue to discuss how to incorporate these guidelines into the lynx strategy proposed on industrial forest lands. In 2006 Maine was selected as one of three states to pilot the new Healthy Forest Reserve Program. This program, administered through the Natural Resources Conservation Service, provides monetary and Endangered Species Act (ESA) incentives to forest landowners to manage for rare and endangered species, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. The Service and NRCS developed a program to pay for development of lynx habitat management plans on private forest lands in the proposed critical habitat area. Plans show benefits to lynx (young forest), pine marten (mature forest), and biodiversity. In 2006 and 2007 five landowners were enrolled and committed to developing lynx management plans on over 600,000 acres (10% of the proposed critical habitat area). The Service's lynx guidelines and University of Maine lynx-pine marten umbrella species models serve as the biological basis for these plans. These recent initiatives demonstrate that voluntary, cooperative, non-regulatory, incentive-based programs show promise as a means of achieving lynx recovery on private forest lands in Maine. Movement patterns of lynx in Minnesota Ron Moen, Michael L. Nelson, Christopher L. Burdett, Gerald Niemi University of Minnesota Duluth A limiting resource, such as low prey availability, may affect the speed. Populations in peripheral parts of a species range could be most affected by prey availability. When hare populations are low, some lynx make long-distance movements. We evaluated movements by male and female lynx wearing GPS radiocollars, VHF radiocollars, and ear-tags in northeastern Minnesota. We evaluated movement at 1 and 4-day time scales for females that raised a litter of kittens while radiocollared, females that did not raise a litter of kittens while radiocollared, and males. Movement rates within home ranges indicated adequate prey was present. A strong contrast in use of space by male and female lynx emerged. Male lynx tended to move distances of 80 to100 km occasionally, while females with kittens did not make long-distance movements and were never more than 25 km from the center of their home range. Females without kittens did make long-distance movements, as did one female in late winter after she had raised a litter of kittens. Management of lynx populations at the southern edge of their range needs to take into consideration that 40% or more of individuals may move away from their home range. Lynx move far enough to cross political boundaries in which legal status varies, leading to biological and management consequences for southern lynx populations. 10

14 Identification of suitable habitat for Canada lynx Bizhiw in the Grand Portage area and northeastern Minnesota within 1854 Ceded Territories Seth Moore, Ron Moen, Nick McCann Grand Portage Band of Chippewa, University of Minnesota Duluth The Canada lynx Bizhiw is an important species to the Anishinabeg and other native nations, because of its sacred symbolism as a vigilant protector of the people. Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) were a member of the animal community in Grand Portage and the 1854 Ceded Territory, where Grand Portage Chippewa had a historical presence. Lynx were common at times in northern Minnesota, but populations have been low since the 1980s. The Grand Portage Conservation Code (1997) lists lynx as a game furbearer and band members are allowed to trap them, however, none have been harvested in recent history. In an effort to augment information on Canada lynx habitat specifically on Grand Portage Reservation lands, the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa and its partners (Natural Resources Research Institute University of Minnesota, and the Western Great Lakes Lynx (WGLL) Research Project partners) have begun a cooperative project to determine the extent of Canada lynx habitat on and adjacent to reservation land (within the 1854 Ceded Territory). The project goals are: to identify suitable habitats for Canada lynx, to identify land management actions that would benefit Canada lynx, and to capture lynx and deploy GPS radiotelemetry collars near and on Grand Portage Reservation lands. A final product will be to identify areas of the Grand Portage Reservation lands that could support a restored lynx population. Can snowshoe hare population assessment supplant standard lynx habitat selection studies? Dennis Murray Trent University Given the quasi-syntopic occurrence of snowshoe hares and Canada lynx in North America, one has to wonder if understanding local hare habitat needs can supplant the need for standard radio-telemetry studies of lynx? Although there are additional spatial issues to consider when assessing lynx requirements, perhaps sufficient information can be obtained from understanding local snowshoe hare distribution and abundance to make a coarse assessment of lynx habitat suitability. Across their distribution, snowshoe hares are highly predictable in their preference for midsuccessional forests providing adequate cover (and to a lesser extent food), so if hare habitat assessment is a useful surrogate, a parsimonious lynx habitat model can be developed. Certainly, such an approach is easier and cheaper than studying lynx directly, but the fundamental question is whether or not sufficient insight can be gained by this approach? I hope that this presentation will spur discussion regarding the pros vs. cons of limiting intensive site-by-site lynx habitat suitability studies and instead focusing on coarser snowshoe hare population assessment. The objectives of this project are: 1) to update the existing Grand Portage cover type delineation, 2) to apply Canada lynx habitat use characteristics from the WGLL project, that encompasses 1854 territory, to Grand Portage lands, 3) to identify possible land management actions that would increase the probability of Canada lynx restoration, and, if the opportunity arises, 4) to deploy GPS telemetry collars on Canada lynx within GP and adjacent ceded territory boundaries. Ultimately, the project may assist in the eventual restoration of a naturally reproducing population of Canada lynx on tribal lands along with its 1854 Ceded Territory. 11

15 Review of wildlife and climate change in the upper Midwestern United States Gerald J. Niemi, Lucinda B. Johnson University of Minnesota Duluth Climate change will affect wildlife in the upper Midwestern United States in some relatively predictable ways, yet many effects remain elusive. For instance, recent increases in temperature have resulted in northward expansions of many wildlife species such as birds and mammals (e.g., opossum). However, many northward distribution patterns are partly confounded by habitat and landscape changes such as increased urbanization.. In contrast, many species (e.g., gray wolf) have expanded in a southerly direction for reasons unrelated to climate change. Changes in disturbance regimes (e.g., forest fire) and precipitation patterns due to climate change are less predictable, but will have important effects on many wildlife species and their habitats. We will 1) review some evidence for climate change, 2) summarize the evidence in distributional or phenological changes of selected wildlife species, and 3) identify the many uncertainties in our knowledge with respect to climate change in this region. Validating activity counters in GPS collars Julie Palakovich Carr, Ron Moen, Gerald J. Niemi University of Minnesota Duluth Motion sensors can associate level of activity with a location and habitat type. We correlated animal activity with collar activity counts by direct observation. We videotaped a captive Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) wearing a GPS collar and recorded its behavior to validate activity counts. Active and inactive periods led to higher and lower counts, respectively. We correctly classified 74% of all five minute intervals of behavior with threshold values to separate active and inactive behavior. Accuracy in classifying activity counts was higher for intervals consisting of inactive behaviors (76.6%) than for intervals consisting of active behaviors (41.7%). This method was applied to three free-ranging lynx. We scaled threshold values separating activity and inactivity to the frequency of low and high activity counts for each GPS collar. Collars placed on freeranging lynx had a higher percentage of low and high activity counts. Given behavioral differences between the captive and free-ranging lynx, activity counts can be used to identify when free-ranging Canada lynx are active or inactive. The promises and pitfalls of transboundary cooperation: lessons learned from lynx Justina C. Ray Wildlife Conservation Society Canada The need for formalized cooperation across national boundaries in species management and conservation has long been recognized in North America, beginning in the early 1900s. In spite of the intuitive appeal of this notion and the existence of multiple treaties, associations, committees, and collaborative agreements that are meant to foster transboundary cooperation in biodiversity conservation, most actions affecting individual species still focus at the jurisdictional level. In addition, most cooperation pertains to technical issues related to species rather than to complementary, integrated actions that apply across the borders. The extent to which the needs of species of management interest or conservation concern are served or status is maintained or improved is variable and may depend on such factors as the species profile, the institutional framework, and the policy and decision-making instruments. In this talk I will explore the challenges and opportunities for lynx conservation across the U.S- Canada border with a focus on the Northeast. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is revising the Canada lynx critical habitat designation under the Endangered Species Act Shawn Sartorius, Phil Delphey U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service On August 27, 2007, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the Department of the Interior to inform the court as to what action, if any, the Department will take regarding the involvement of former Deputy Assistant Secretary Julie MacDonald in the designation of critical habitat for the Canada lynx. The lynx critical habitat designation was identified in a July 12, 2007 memorandum from H. Dale Hall, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), to Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett as one of eight ESA actions requiring further review to determine if the final decision is clear and comports with the best available science. The FWS intends to initiate a new rulemaking for the critical habitat designation for the lynx. We have identified that the exclusions used to reduce the area of critical habitat in the rule were influenced by Ms. MacDonald and may not reflect the best available scientific and commercial information. The new rulemaking will involve re-analyzing the excluded areas, including National Forest, BLM, private, and 12