2008-06-12_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1980007 (3)

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separated from each other by ecological barriers consisting of unsuitable lvrix habitat. These distinct reg=ions are the Northeast. the Great Lakes. the Northern Rocky itilountains/Cascades. and the Southern Rock: Mountains. While these regions are ecologically unique and discrete, the lynx is associated with southern boreal forest in each and, with the exception of the Southern Rocky ;vountain Region, each area is geoLraphicall y connected to the much larger population of Ivnx in Canada. .Northeast Region Waine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York) - Based on an analvsis of cover types and elevation zones containing most of the lynx occurrences. Mchelvev ei all. (2000b) determined that, at the broad scale, most Ivnx occurrence records in the Northeast were found within the "Mixed Forest-Coniferous Forest-Tundra" cover type at elevations ranging from 250-750 meters (820-2,460 feet). This habitat type in the northeast United States occurs along the northern Appalachian Mountain range from southeastern Quebec, western New Brunswick, and western Maine, south through northern New Hampshire. This habitat type becomes naturally more fragmented and begins to diminish to the south and west, with a disjunct segment running north-south through Vennont, a patch of habitat in the Adirondacks of northern New York, and with a few more distant and isolated patches in Pennsylvania (McKelvey et al. 2000b). Great Lakes Regina (Minnesota, 6i'i.cconsin, /1lichigan) -The majority of lynx occurrence records in the Great Lakes Region are associated with the "mixed deciduous-coniferous forest" type (McKelvey et al. 2000b). These types are found primarily in northeastern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and the western portion of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Northern Rocky Mountains/Cascades Region (Washington, Orelnn, Idaho, ji{'ynmin6-, Utah, Montana) - In this reinon, the majority of lynx occurrences are associated at a broad scale with the "Rocky Mountain Conifer Forest"; within this type, most of the occurrences are in moist Douglas-fir and western spruce/fir forests (McKelvey et al. 2000b). Most of the lynx occurrences are between 4,920 and 6.560 feet in elevation (McKelvey et al. 2000b). These habitats are found in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, Idaho, eastern Washington. and Utah, the Wallowa Mountains and Blue Mountains of southeast Washington and northeastern Oregon. and the Cascade Mountains in Washington and Oregon. The majority of verified Ivnx occurrences in the United States and the confirmed presence of resident populations are from this region. The boreal forest of Washington, Montana, and Idaho is contiguous with that in adjacent British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. Detailed information on the status and distribution of lynx in this region is found in the Final Rule (65 FR 16052; March 24, 2000) and the Clarification of the Final Rule (68 FR 40076; July 3, 2003). Reports frorn other locations - Lynx have been documented in habitats that are unable to support them long-tern. Such occurrences are associated with evclic population highs when lynx- tend to disperse long distances. These unpredictable and temporary occurrences are not included within either the historic or current ranee of Ivnx because they are well outside oflvnx habitat (65 FR 16052, March 24, 2000: 68 FR 40076. July 3. 2003). This includes records from Nevada. North Dakota. South Dakota. Iowa. Nebraska. Indiana. Ohio, and Virginia (Hall and Kelson 1959: Burt 1954: Gunderson 1978: Mech 1980:'vlcKelvev ci al. 2000b: Johnson 1994: Jones 1994: South Dakota Natural Heritage Program 199 Jobman 1997: Smithsonian Institute 19981). •