| Furbearers |
 Certain native furbearer species have been listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) since 1977 and include: bobcat (Lynx rufus), river otter (Lontra canadensis), Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), gray wolf (Canis lupus), and brown bear (Ursus arctos). These species, whose furs are traded internationally, sometimes in high volume, are managed by State or tribal conservation programs and the Fish and Wildlife Service closely monitors their harvest and trade. As for all CITES Appendix-I and -II species, before we can issue a CITES document to allow export, we must find that the specimens were legally acquired and that the export will not be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild. Over the past 25 years, we have worked with State and tribal governments to develop procedures that allow us to make the necessary findings programmatically rather than permit by permit. When States and Tribes provide information showing that they have established a management program that ensures a sustainable harvest, and that they have the means to identify or mark specimens that have been legally taken under their system, we are able to make findings for specimens harvested within their jurisdiction and thereby approve their program. A tag or certificate issued by the State or Tribe demonstrates that a particular specimen was harvested under an approved program and that the appropriate findings have been made Regular reporting from States and Tribes allows us to determine whether our findings remain valid.This alternative to making the legal acquisition and non-detriment findings on a permit-by-permit basis reduces a potentially large workload for exporters as well as for our offices. TRAFFIC Lynx spp. trade review How to Avoid Incidental Take of Lynx While Trapping or Hunting Bobcats and other Furbearers |
Last updated:
October 6, 2011