HELENA — Four conservation groups have filed a notice of their intent to sue the state Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission, claiming that allowing the trapping of other animals in lynx habitat kills and injures a species listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act.
The Alliance for the Wild Rockies, the WildEarth Guardians, the Friends of the Wild Swan and the Native Ecosystem Council said at least nine Montana lynx have been captured since the species was listed in March 2000 and four have died.
The conservation groups argue the addition of trapping to the wolf hunting season this year could lead to more lynx deaths.
Fish and Wildlife division administrator Dave Risley says the four lynx deaths in 12 years are “truly incidental.”