create disturbance that would be 

 detrimental to lynx. 



Existing Environment 



Canada lynx are associated with 

 subalpine fir forests generally 

 between 4,000 to 7,000 feet in 

 elevation in western Montana 

 (Ruediger et al, 2000) . The 

 proposed project area ranges from 

 approximately 3,200 to 5,800 feet 

 in elevation and is dominated by 

 mixed conifers, Douglas -fir, 

 western larch, and subalpine fir. 

 Primary lynx habitats are 

 subalpine-f ir types; however, lynx 

 will use a mix of species 

 compositions (subalpine fir, 

 lodgepole pine, Douglas -fir, grand 

 fir, and western larch) . Typical 

 1/nx denning habitat consists of 

 mature Engelmann spruce/ subalpine 

 fir with abundant coarse woody 

 debris; typical lynx foraging 

 habitat consists of younger 

 coniferous forests with an 

 abundance of snowshoe hare . 

 Historically, high intensity, 

 stand-replacing fires of long fire 

 intervals (40 to 200 years) within 

 continuous forests of lodgepole 

 pine, subalpine fir, and Engelmann 

 spruce maintained a mosaic of 

 ideal snowshoe hare and lynx 

 habitat. The weather station in 

 Olney, 3 miles south of the 

 proposed project area, has 

 recorded an average of 120 inches 

 of snowfall each year, with an 

 average depth of 21 inches. The 

 stand types and ages, elevations, 

 and snow accumulations indicate 

 the northeastern portion of the 

 proposed project area contains 

 appropriate lynx denning habitat 

 {TABLE E-2 - POSSIBLE CANADA LYNX 

 HABITAT WITHIN THE PROPOSED 

 PROJECT AREA BY STAND TYPE AND 

 ELEVATION) . Lynx and lynx tracks 

 have been observed near the 

 proposed project area and in 

 adjacent areas on Stillwater State 

 Forest. Snowshoe hares occur 

 throughout the proposed project 

 area. 



TABLE E-2 - POSSIBLE CANADA LYNX 

 HABITAT WITHIN THE PROPOSED PROJECT 

 AREA BY STAND TYPE AND ELEVATION 



Cumulative effects were analyzed 

 on the State portions of the 

 Stryker and Lazy Creek Grizzly 

 Bear Management Subunits. 



Direct and Indirect Effects 



• Direct and Indirect niO'ech qfJ>io-,1clion 

 . lUernntice , 1 on Canada Lynx 



Under this alternative, timber 

 stands would continue to age, 

 die, and be replaced by shade- 

 tolerant tree species. Existing 

 closed roads and skid trails 

 would remain closed; no changes 

 in human-disturbance levels are 

 expected. However, use of the 

 general vicinity by snowmobiles 

 may enable other predators to 

 access some of these upper 

 elevations, increasing 

 competition for available prey. 

 Lynx generally will not travel 

 more than 100 meters 

 (approximately 110 yards) 

 through an open-habitat type; 

 the existing stands of 

 continuous forested habitats 

 facilitate lynx movement. 



Denning habitat would continue 

 to age, which would gradually 

 improve the habitat quality for 

 lynx. Dense stands of younger 

 coniferous forests from past 

 timber harvests exist in the 

 proposed project area, providing 

 snowshoe hare habitat. In the 

 long term, foraging 



Appendix E-Wildlife Analysis 



Page E-15 



