Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Contiguous United States Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx

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We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the contiguous United States distinct population segment of the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) (lynx) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The lynx generally inhabits cold, moist boreal forests in the contiguous United States. In total, approximately 26,935 square miles (mi\2\) (69,760 square kilometers (km\2\)) fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation, in four units in the States of Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, and Washington. However, we are not proposing to designate all of the area with the boundaries. In particular, we are not including lands within Lynx Analysis Units in the Superior National Forest in Minnesota, because they do not meet the definition of critical habitat pursuant to section 3(5)(A) of the Act as a consequence of the Superior National Forest having amended its Forest Plan to adopt the Lynx Conservation Assessment and Strategy. These lands are not included in the estimated square miles of the proposed designation. In addition, we are not proposing to designate critical habitat on the Federal lands within se