Proposed Habitat Protections Could Bolster Canada Lynx in Southern Rockies

U.S. wildlife officials unveil a recovery plan for the threatened Canada lynx, but its future remains uncertain under the incoming administration.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed protecting nearly 7,700 square miles of habitat in Colorado and northern New Mexico for the Canada lynx.
The Canada lynx has been listed as a threatened species since 2000, with an estimated 1,100 individuals spread across five populations in the contiguous U.S.
The proposal marks a shift from previous policies, which excluded the southern Rockies and focused on other areas such as Wyoming, Montana, Minnesota, and Maine.
Climate change poses a significant threat to the species, as warming temperatures reduce snowy habitats and the availability of snowshoe hares, their primary food source.
A final decision on the proposed protections is expected next year, but the plan's fate is uncertain under President-elect Donald Trump, whose prior administration attempted to remove lynx protections.