IMPROVING CANADA LYNX POPULATION REDUNDANCY IN WASHINGTON: ASSESSING THE STATUS OF A LYNX AUGMENTATION IN COLVILLE NATIONAL FOREST

Project ID: F24AC01481

Federal Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Partner Institution: Washington State University

Fiscal Year: 2024

Initial Funding: $76,115

Total Funding: $76,115

Principal Investigator: Thornton, Daniel

Agreement Technical Representative: Michener, Matt

Abstract: THE COLVILLE NATIONAL FOREST IS A POTENTIALLY SUITABLE AREA FOR LYNX IN WASHINGTON AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TOCONTRIBUTE TO LYNX PERSISTENCE IN THE STATE. IN 2021, A LYNX AUGMENTATION PROJECT WAS INITIATED BY COLVILLECONFEDERATED TRIBES, AND THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT EFFORT MAY CONTRIBUTE TO LYNX RESILIENCE.SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES ARE:1) MONITOR THE STATUS OF THE LYNX AUGMENTATION BY EXAMINING LYNX OCCUPANCY PATTERNS AND CHANGE IN OCCUPANCYTHROUGH TIME.2) EXAMINE FACTORS THAT INDICATE THE POTENTIAL FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF THE AUGMENTATION, INCLUDING PRESENCE OFKITTENS OR PRESENCE OF LYNX THAT WERE NOT PART OF THE AUGMENTATION EFFORT.3) EXAMINE HABITAT USE BY THE AUGMENTED LYNX POPULATION, AND COMPARE WITH PREVIOUS FINDINGS FROM RESIDENTPOPULATIONS IN WASHINGTON.4) IDENTIFY IMPORTANT HABITAT AREAS FOR AUGMENTED LYNX ON THE COLVILLE NATIONAL FOREST THAT COULD GUIDE DECISIONSREGARDING FOREST TREATMENTS.5) IDENTIFY IF COMPETITION COULD BE A LIMITING FACTOR FOR LYNX OCCUPANCY OF THE COLVILLE NF