Trapping and snaring in the “core” habitat of the Canada lynx in Minnesota violated the Endangered Species Act, a federal judge said in a ruling published Monday. U.S. District Judge Michael Davis ordered the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to “promptly take all action necessary to [ensure] no further taking of threatened Canada lynx.” Davis said the DNR must apply by the end of April for a special permit regulating incidental takings of Canada lynx. The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed in 2006 by the Animal Protection Institute (now called Born Free USA) and the Center for Biological Diversity. According to the plaintiffs, trappers injured or killed at least 13 Canada lynx from 2002 to 2005.
DNR is told to put a stop to trapping Canada lynx
Dan Browning
Minneapolis Star Tribune