Pikes Peak Region Trail Finder

Photo by the Division of Wildlife

By BRUCE FINLEY, THE DENVER POST

Federal lawyers have backed away from fighting a federal judge's ruling that favors lynx, clearing the way for possible broader protection of the quick-pawed predators in Colorado and other Western states.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists are now required to recalculate how much “critical habitat” they have designated to ensure long-term survival of the Canada lynx, a threatened species. Previously, federal biologists called all of Colorado, and parts of Montana and Idaho, nonessential habitat.

“They have to look at everywhere there are lynx as possible ‘critical habitat.' That includes a big part of southwestern Colorado,” said Michael Garrity, director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, lauding this week's ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

“You cannot have a species survive over the long run if you don't have connected habitat that is protected,” Garrity said.

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