A condensed update of Brittell et al. 1989, this paper has lots of advice for managers of lynx habitat. As mentioned in our comments on that paper, the widespread application of these recommendations has been questioned due to the following (e.g., J. Halfpenny, pers. comm.):
- focus is on burned forests/habitats;
- unclear that recommendations can be extrapolated to the drier sites of the Rocky Mountains.

Notable excerpts include the following.

"The low numbers and dispersed populations within the West make lynx vulnerable to overexploitation and habitat disruption" (10)

Managing for Hares

"For browse, softwood and hardwood saplings and seedlings must be taller than the snow depth, yet short enough to be reached. Where snow depths reach 3-4 feet, trees must be 6-8 feet tall (Wolfe et al. 1982) and less than 0.4 inch in diameter (Wolff 1980, Koehler 1990)." (11)

"Besides browse, hares need habitat that offer protection from predators and extreme cold. in fact, hares may select habitat where security and thermal cover is abundant even if browse is limited (Monthey 1986). Desne stands with 4,690 to 13,440 stems/acre provide for these needs (Brocke 1975 [other cites follow])." (11)

"... hares may not recolonize clearcuts until 6-7 years after cutting, and may not reach high densities for 20-25 years" (11)

"As stands become older (greater than 20-30 years old) and stem density declines, security cover and forage production diminishes (Brocke 1975, Koehler 1990)." (11)

Managing for Denning

"In Washington, denning sites were typified as lodgepole pine, spruce, and subalpine forests older than 200 years, with north and northeast aspects, mesic habitat associations, and a high density of down-fall logs (greater than 40 logs/150 feet lying 1-4 feet above the ground, Koehler 1990). Downed logs and stumps provide cover for kittens and may be the most important component of denning habitat." (11)

"Although stands used as den sites may range from 1 to 5 acres in size, dispersed pockets of mature stands connected by travel corridors are needed to allow females to move their kittens toward more abundant prey or to avoid disturbances." (11)

Managing for Cover

"The density of trees should be greater than 180 stems/acre and tree height should be at least 6 feet, particularly where snow depth is 2-3 feet." (11)

"Clearcuts should be designed less than 300 feet wide so that lynx will cross them, or be irregular in shape with periodic constrictions less than 300 feet wide." (11)

Access Management

"Lynx are vulnerable to overexploitation from trapping (Todd 1985, Bailey et al. 1986). Roads increase access for hunters and trappers, destroy habitat for prey, and disrupt lynx travel and hunting patterns. To mitigate these effects, road should be kept to a minimum and main roads should be maintained to primitive standards..." (13)