Well, here it is. After a few months of back and forth, the State of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has settled a lawsuit with the California-based Animal Protection Institute, which sued the state under the premise that state-approved trapping activities threaten Canada lynx.
State Agrees to Restrict Trapping to Protect Threatened Lynx
Sportsmen Settle Suit and Protect Trapping in Maine
The results of the settlement have been sort of a mixed bag for trappers. On the one hand, trapping in northern Maine can continue. On the other, however, trappers have had to give up some important tools and methods, even though trapping has only resulted in two dead lynx in Maine, compared to 11 killed by automobiles.
As a result of the lawsuit, the use of conibears on the ground has been prohibited, except in certain cases. Furthermore, the most effective coyote traps (traps with a jaw spread of over 5 3/8″) are no longer allowed in northern Maine.
One of the many problems I see with this is that restricting the use of these traps will make it harder for trappers to catch coyotes, and coyotes compete with lynx for a common food source, especially during winters with little snow.
The bottom line is that research has shown that lynx populations are driven primarily by the snowshoe hare cycle, and most lynx deaths are a result of starvation. In addition, fishers have been documented killing a number of lynx, and the state has taken measures to reduce fisher catch because of concern for declining fisher populations. So we’re changing laws that may result in an increase in species that cause detriment to lynx populations. But hey, we reduced the chances of killing 2 lynx over the next 10 years by restricting the rights of trappers. Smart.
See more on the issue from Tom Remington’s Black Bear Blog here and here
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