This is an excellent review of lynx status and needs known at the time of its publication in 1994. It contains far too much good information to be related here, but here are some highlights relevant to the U.S. northern Rockies.

Natural History
"At the southern limits of its distribution snowshoe hare populations do not undergo dramatic cycles due apparently to the presence and competitors that do not occur in the northern regions and to the patchiness of suitable habitat (Dolbeer and Clark 1975; Wolff 1980, 1982). Consequently, lynx populations appear also not to cycle in abundance at southern latitudes (Koehler 1990). In general, lynx and snowshoe hares in the wetsern mountains of the United States exhibit life history characteristics similar to those occurring during hare population lows in the northern boreal forests (Brittell et al. 1989, unpubl.; Koehler 1990; Dolbeer and Clark 1975; Wolff 1980, 1982). This difference in the population dynamics of lynx and snowshoe hares in the southern portions of their ranges has strong implications for the management and conservation of lynx in the western mountains." (75)

Current Management Status
"The conservation of lynx populations is of greatest concern in the western mountains of the conterminous United States at the southern periphery of the species' range. Because recruitment is low in this region and many lynx populations, especially those in Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado, are geographically isolated, trapping and forest management activities may pose significant threats to the persistence of these populations." (77)

Reproduction
"Lynx have a high potential for population growth, but, as with other life history parameters, recruitment is influenced by the abundance of its principal prey, the snowshoe hare (Bailey et al. 1986; [several other cites follow]" (80)

Mortality
"As with reproductive parameters, mortality is also influenced by the relative abundance of hares During periods of decreasing hare numbers, mortality rates for kittens may be three times that for adults (Brand and Keith 1979) it appears there may be a minimum density of hares at which females are no longer able to successfully rear kittens (Nellis et al. 1972)." (82)

"Trapping can be a significant source of mortality for lynx (Bailey et al 1986 [other cites follow] Emigrating or nomadic lynx can suffer high trapping mortality Trapping mortality appears to be additive, since most natural mortality occurs during summer months prior to the winter trapping season." (82-83)

"Lynx apparently invest a great deal in learning to hunt, since kittens typically remain with their mother until they are 9-10 months of age (Bailey et al. 1986 [other cites follow]. Their proficiency at hunting during their first 2 years is critical. When female lynx with kittens are trapped, the kittens are particularly vulnerable to starvation (Carbyn and Patriquin 1983)." (84)

Habitat Relationships
Management Considerations
"1. High-quality lynx habitat in the western mountains consists of a mosaic of early successional habitats with high hare densities. And late-successional stands with downed woody debris for thermal and security cover and for denning.
2. Clearcuts >100 m wide may create barriers to lynx movements.
3. Hares may not begin to recolonize clearcuts until 6-7 years after cutting, thus it may take 20-25 years at southern latitudes for snowshoe hare densities to reach highest levels.
4. Thinning stands early to maximize tree-growth potential can be compatible with snowshoe hare and lynx habitat needs provided that stands are thinned before snowshoe hares recolonize the area. Otherwise, thinning may be most effective when stands are older than 30-40 years and are used little by hares
5. Small-sized parcels (1-2 ha) of late-successional forest appear to be adequate for den sites, but these parcels must be connected by corridors of cover to permit females to move kittens to alternate den sites providing suitable access to prey.
6. Approximating the natural disturbance frequency and spatial patterns present on the landscape is expected to provide the best habitat for lynx
7. disease and insects provide dead and downed trees used for denning cover
8. Road management is an important component of lynx habitat management lynx use roads for hunting and travel which may make them more vulnerable to human-caused mortality." (89)

Home Range and Movements
"Studies using radiotelemetry have estimated home ranges for lynx varying in size from 8 to 783 km2 (Berrie 1973 [other cites follow]" (90)

"Records indicate long-distance movements by lynx of 1,100 km (Slough and Mowat 1993, unpubl.) and 700 km (Ward and Krebs 1985) in the Yukon 616 km in Washington (Brittell et al. 1989, unpubl.), 325 km in western Montana ((Brainerd 1985) Translocated lynx in New York used areas exceeding 1,000 km2 (Brocke et al. 1992)." (91)

Management Considerations
1. Differences in the home range requirements and social organization of lynx in different areas indicate that management is best considered at regional levels, rather than provincial or state levels. Considering the role that emigration may play in population dynamics at a regional scale, it is also important to recognize that management activities in one area may affect populations in neighboring and outlying regions.
2. Habitat management for lynx would benefit from a consideration of local home range sizes and distributions, and vegetative and physiographic features which may serve as a home range boundaries." (92)

Competition, Affected by Winter Recreation
"Measurements show the relative support capacity of lynx paws to be twice that for bobcat paws (Parker et al. 1983) and 4.1 – 8.8 times that of coyote paws (Murray and Boutin 1991), enabling lynx to exploit high-elevation areas where deep snow would exclude coyotes and bobcats (Brocke et al. 1992; [other cites follow]). However, opportunities for resource overlap among these species may increase during winter due to increased access to high-elevation habitats via snowmobile trails and roads maintained for winter recreation or forest management activities. Increased competition from other predators may be particularly detrimental for lynx during late winter when hare numbers are lowest and lynx are nutritionally stressed." (93)

Conclusions Regarding Conservation Status in the Western Mountains

"[Brand and Keith 1979] recommend that trapping of lynx in northern boreal forests should cease during the 3-4 years when hare populations are at their lowest levels. Because hare populations are always at generally low levels in the western mountains, this line of reasoning suggests that complete protection of lynx populations in the western states may be appropriate to ensure their population persistence." (93)

"The range of lynx in the western mountains has diminished over the last century, suggesting that lynx may be negatively impacted by development. Because suitable habitats are more fragmented and restricted in extent in the western mountains, lynx may be less tolerant of human activities here than in Canada and Alaska, where refuge habitats are more prevalent. Thus, providing protected areas within optimal lynx habitat in the western mountains may be important for the persistence of lynx populations." (94)

"Only five lynx studies have ever been conducted in the western mountains of the United States, including two in Washington and three in Montana [Brainerd 1985; Brittell et al. 1989, unpubl.; Koehler 1990; Koehler et al. 1979; Smith 1984] Additional research of lynx in the western mountains, especially studies of their foraging ecology, den site characteristics, and habitat relationships at the landscape scale, are urgently needed." (94)