The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that the Canada lynx should not be classified as an endangered species, as defined under the Endangered Species Act, in the contiguous United States. The lynx will remain listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The finding announced today clarifies a finding made when the contiguous U.S. population of the Canada lynx was listed as a threatened species in March of 2000.
Subsequent to the final listing, Defenders of Wildlife et al filed suit asserting that the listing of the Canada lynx as threatened, rather than endangered, was arbitrary and capricious and challenging the Service
