A review of the status and needs of the lynx in Canada, by the "official publication of the Ontario Trappers Association."

"Overall, the available evidence indicates that a major decline in lynx abundance occurred during a period of less than 20-30 years around the turn of the century. This decline is largely attributed to over-harvest. Fur returns do not show any major recovery in lynx numbers until the early 1960's. Hence, recovery from over-exploitation took a minimum of 15-20 years..." (16)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's proposed rule to list the lynx references this study as evidence of the threat to lynx posed by increased roaded access:
"The high degree of access into Alberta's forests created by petroleum development and logging was suggested as an explanation for why Alberta produced a large proportion of the total Canadian lynx harvest in the 1970's and 1980's (Todd 1985)." (USDI 1998, p. 37006)

"It is likely that difficulties in lynx conservation in Alberta are exacerbated by the high degree of access to lynx habitat. Untrapped or lightly trapped reserves of lynx are more apt to occur in remote areas." (18)

Conclusions
"In summary, lynx production figures show a lower than expected harvest at the most recent peak, in spite of extremely high pelt values for lynx. Such harvest trends, coupled with indications of vacant habitat in the peripheral portions of the lynx range, suggest an overall downward trend in lynx abundance." (20)