WP18–34 Executive Summary

General Description Proposal WP18–34 requests that the lynx trapping season in Unit 24A be

lengthened from Nov. 1-Feb. 28 to Nov. 1-March 31. Submitted by:

Jack Reakoff of Wiseman.

Proposed Regulation Units 19, 21, and 24—Lynx

Units 19, 21, and 24 24B, 24C, and 24D—no

limit

Nov. 1-Feb. 28

Units 24A—no limit Nov. 1-March 31

OSM Preliminary

Conclusion Support

Southeast Alaska

Subsistence Regional

Advisory Council

Recommendation

Southcentral Alaska

Subsistence Regional

Advisory Council

Recommendation

Kodiak/Aleutians

Subsistence Regional

Advisory Council

Recommendation

Bristol Bay Subsistence

Regional Advisory Council

Recommendation

Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta

Subsistence Regional

Advisory Council

Recommendation

Western Interior Alaska

Subsistence Regional

Advisory Council

Recommendation

WP18–34 Executive Summary

Seward Peninsula

Subsistence Regional

Advisory Council

Recommendation

Northwest Arctic

Subsistence Regional

Advisory Council

Recommendation

Eastern Interior Alaska

Subsistence Regional

Advisory Council

Recommendation

North Slope Subsistence

Regional Advisory Council

Recommendation

Interagency Staff Committee

Comments

ADF&G Comments

Written Public Comments None

DRAFT STAFF ANALYSIS

WP18-34

ISSUES

Proposal WP18-34, submitted by Jack Reakoff of Wiseman, requests that the lynx trapping season in Unit

24A be lengthened from Nov. 1-Feb. 28 to Nov. 1-March 31.

DISCUSSION

The proponent states that the lynx population is currently under-utilized in Unit 24A, and that snowshoe

hare and lynx populations are rapidly increasing. The proponent also states that fur prices are low and that

lengthening the trapping season for lynx would provide increase harvest opportunities for Federally

qualified subsistence users. The proponent also mentions that this proposal would align the lynx trapping

season with the wolverine trapping season in Unit 24A and with the lynx trapping season in Unit 25. The

proponent claims that this would decrease user confusion and allow Federally qualified subsistence users to

avoid incidental take of lynx while targeting wolves and wolverine.

Existing Federal Regulation

Unit 19, 21, and 24—Lynx

Units 19, 21, and 24—no limit Nov. 1-Feb. 28

Proposed Federal Regulation

Units 19, 21, and 24—Lynx

Units 19, 21, and 24 24B, 24C, and 24D—no limit Nov. 1-Feb. 28

Units 24A—no limit Nov. 1-March 31

Existing State Regulation

Units 24, 25A, 25B, and 25D—Lynx

Units 24, 25A, 25B, and 25D

No limit Nov. 1 – Feb. 28

Extent of Federal Public Lands

Federal public lands comprise approximately 72% of Unit 24A, and consist of 59% Bureau of Land

Management (BLM) managed lands, 11% National Park Service (NPS) managed lands, and 2% U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service (USFWS) managed lands (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Federal public lands in Unit 24A.

Customary and Traditional Use Determinations

The Federal Subsistence Board (Board) has not made a customary and traditional use determination for

lynx in Unit 24. Therefore, all Federally qualified subsistence users may harvest this species in this unit.

Regulatory History

In 1987, the Alaska Board of Game (BOG) adopted a “tracking harvest strategy” to manage lynx trapping

seasons in the road-connected game management units of Interior and Southcentral Alaska. Under this

strategy, lynx seasons were reduced and liberalized in response to cyclical fluctuations in lynx populations

via emergency orders (Hollis 2010). In 1995, the Board endorsed the harvest tracking concept and

temporarily adjusted the lynx trapping season via Special Action WSA95-05 to match the Emergency

Order (6/30/95) put in place by the State.

In 2001, the Board adopted Statewide Proposal WP01-44, and issued a Delegation of Authority Letter

allowing the Assistant Regional Director for the Office of Subsistence Management (OSM) to adjust lynx

trapping regulations through the use of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) tracking

harvest strategy. This delegated authority required coordination with ADF&G and consultation with

appropriate Federal land management agencies.

Both the State and Federal lynx trapping seasons in Unit 24 have remained unchanged for over a decade,

with the exception of a slight modification in 2010 to include Feb. 29 in the State regulations to address user

confusion related to leap years (Pamperin 2013).

Biological Background

State management goals for lynx in Unit 24A include to “protect, maintain, and enhance the furbearer

populations and their habitats in concert with other components of the ecosystems” and to “provide for

continued use of furbearers by local Alaska residents who have customarily and traditionally depended on

these populations” (Pamperin 2013). Similarly, the State’s management objectives and activities are to

“manage furbearer populations to maintain populations at levels sufficient to provide for sustained

consumptive and nonconsumptive uses”, “to monitor harvest through fur sealing records and trapper

questionnaires”, and to “monitor furbearer populations by reconnaissance surveys, trapper questionaires,

and trapper interviews” (Pamperin 2013).

Lynx are common in Alaska (USFWS 2013, Yom-Tov et al. 2007). Snowshoe hare are the predominant

prey of lynx and are believed to comprise up to 83% of the species’ diet (Mowat and Slough 2003,

O’Donoghue et al. 1997, USFWS 2013, 2017a, b; Yom-Tov et al. 2007). As a result, lynx populations

fluctuate in direct response to changes in hare abundance (Yom-Tov et al. 2007). Snowshoe hare have a

cyclical population trend that lasts from 8-11 years and lynx population numbers fluctuate in tandem with

this trend with a lag of 1-2 years (O’Donoghue et al. 1997, USFWS 2013, 2017b; Yom-Tov et al. 2007).

Lynx populations in Unit 24 peaked in 2000 and reached a low in 2005, with the population beginning to

increase again in 2006 (Hollis 2010). Continuation of this cycle would mean that lynx populations most

likely reached their peak again in 2010, reached their low around 2015, and began to increase in numbers

around 2016 with the next population peak expected around 2020. This pattern was confirmed in an NPS

study that found that snowshoe hare populations in the Wiseman area reached a peak between 2009-2011

(DiFolco et. al. 2017). Work in the Wiseman area showed that snowshoe hares have what is known as a

“super peak”, or abnormally high population spike, every other peak cycle (Churchwell 2017, pers. comm.,

DiFolco et al. 2017). Due to lynx populations typically following the snowshoe hare population cycle, it is

expected that lynx also have modest population peaks between “super peak” cycles (Churchwell 2017, pers.

comm., DiFolco et al. 2017). According to data in the Wiseman area, showshoe hare populations are

currently rebounding, and the region is approaching a “super peak” cycle (Churchwell 2017, pers. comm.,

DiFolco et al. 2017). The snowshoe hare population is expected to crash within the next 2-3 years, which

will be followed by a crash in the lynx population in the area as well (Churchwell 2017, pers. comm,

USFWS 2017b).

Lynx typically breed in March and April (USFWS 2013). Kittens are born from late April to mid-June,

with litter sizes ranging from 1 to 6 kittens (USFWS 2013). Typically, females produce one litter per year,

but may breed a second time if the litter is lost shortly after birth. Both male and female lynx are

reproductively capable in their first year, though they rarely breed at that age. If yearling females do breed,

they consistently produce smaller litters than older females. Reproductive output slows during the low

phase of the hare cycle and there is some evidence that females may not produce a litter every year when

hares are scarce (O’Donoghue et al. 1997, USFWS 2013).

Currently, the USFWS is conducting lynx capture operations and working with partners to monitor

population fluctuations, habitat use, and movements at Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge (NWR),

Koyukuk/Nowitna/Innoko NWRs, Yukon Flats NWR, Fairbanks, Wiseman, and Kluane National Park and

Preserve (Bertram 2017, USFWS 2017a, b). This study is also meant to determine if trapping of lynx is

additive or compensatory to provide a basis for future lynx management strategies and recommendations

(USFWS 2017a, b). Snowshoe hare population monitoring has taken place in Gates of the Arctic National

Park since 1997 (DiFolco et al. 2017) and the lynx trapping and collaring portion of this study was initiated

in 2008 and then extended to Tetlin NWR, Kanuti NWR, Koyukuk NWR, and Yukon Flats NWRs in 2014

(USFWS 2017b).

Habitat

Lynx inhabit areas that are suitable for high density snowshoe hare survival (USFWS 2013). Lynx and

hares typically inhabit boreal forest areas with gently rolling terrain and dense understory vegetation and

persistent powdery snow (USFWS 2013). Mowat and Slough (2003) found that lynx in southern Yukon

preferred regenerating habitats over mature spruce stands. This could suggest that previously burned areas

provide favored habitat for lynx. Wildfire (the primary driver of boreal forest succession and habitat

heterogeneity) frequency is forecast to increase as the Arctic climate warms (Joly et al. 2012), which could

lead to more lynx and hare habitat in the region.

Cultural Knowledge and Traditional Practices

Unit 24A is situated primarily within the traditional boundaries of the Koyukon Athabascan cultural group.

Among Koyukon Athabascans, lynx are called kaazina meaning “black tail” in English (Jones 1978,

Nelson 1983). This species is considered to have a great spirit power, and women are taught that they must

speak indirectly of them using the term nodooya meaning “something going around” (Jones 1978, Nelson

1983). The Koyukon considered lynx an excellent food source, but women were strictly forbidden from

eating it as it was thought that they would lose one or more living children or experience a miscarriage.

Lynx are not considered a relative of any other animal and are said to have a type of spirit called biyeega

hoolaanh meaning “they are shadows” (Jones 1978, Nelson 1983). This spirit is thought to be rivaled only

by those of wolverine, bear, and wolves. If lynx are disrespected in any way, it was thought that the

antagonist would either become ill or never be able to harvest another lynx. A short story reiterates this

belief (Nelson 1983):

In the Distant Time, the bear and lynx were talking. The bear said that when humans began

hunting him they would have to treat him right. If he was mistreated by someone, that person

would get no bears until he had gray hairs on his head. But the lynx said that people who

mistreated him would never get a lynx again in their lives.

Koyukon trappers generally consider lynx fairly easy to catch using steel snares or traps (Nelson 1983).

Traditionally trappers would use small wooden dolls on each side of a baited snare to represent two women

that were killed in a cultural legend pertaining to this species. Trappers also often draw a face on a tree

near the traps. Use of lynx pelts among the Koyukon was limited since only men were permitted to wear

clothes made from it. Koyukon stories tell of ancient lynx that suffered from stiff joints; if boys were

allowed to wear lynx boots they were thought to later develop arthritis. Upon skinning a lynx, the leg

joints would be partially severed and the carcass (including organs that were not typically eaten) was taken

to a remote place and burned.

Today, Unit 24 is transected along its length by the James W. Dalton Highway (Dalton Highway) and

encompasses two communities, Wiseman and Coldfoot, though some residents of the unit reside in outlying

areas. Construction of the Dalton Highway was completed in 1974 but was not open to the general public

until December of 1994 (ADCCEA 2017). Coldfoot was established in the late 1890s as the result of

nearby discoveries of gold (Holen et al. 2012). The community was originally named Slate Creek but was

changed to Coldfoot in 1900, reportedly as a result of prospectors getting cold feet and returning home

(Holen et al. 2012). The population of the area was recorded as 20 in 1900 and peaked at 350 between

1902 and 1904 (Holen et al. 2012). The community was completely abandoned by 1930. There were

few intermittent residents following the abandonment but it was re-established in the 1970s as a result of the

construction of the Dalton Highway and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. As of 2010 there were 10 reported

full-time residents of Coldfoot (ADCCEA 2017).

The original village site of Wiseman was established at the confluence of Wiseman Creek and Middle Fork

Koyukuk River in 1908 and was formerly known as Wright’s City and Nolan (Holen et al 2012, ADCCEA

2017). At the beginning of the 20th century gold production near Coldfoot was in decline and gold was

found at Nolan Creek in 1907; this shifted mining activity to the Wiseman area (Holen et al 2012,

ADCCEA 2017). Wiseman’s population was 320 in 1916 but following a decline in gold mining, the

population declined to 53 by 1939 and to 14 by 2010 (Holen et al. 2012, ADCCEA 2017).

ADF&G’s Division of Subsistence conducted comprehensive household subsistence surveys in both

Coldfoot and Wiseman in 2011 (Holen et al. 2012). While no households in Coldfoot reported use of

small land mammals in the study year, approximately 60% of Wiseman households reported use of one or

more of these species. Approximately 60% of households reported using and harvesting lynx specifically

and approximately 13 individual lynx were harvested by Wiseman residents in 2011. Lynx were included

in the top 10 resources used by Wiseman residents. Timing of small land mammal harvest is variable and

dependent on snow depth.

Holen et al. (2012) reported that small land mammals and furbearers are very important to Wiseman

residents for both personal use and as a source of income. Most of these animals were harvested for furs,

but one key respondent noted that some residents consume lynx for food. The harvest of small land

mammals for food consumption was less than 1% of the total harvest in 2011. Harvest of these species

occurred in the study year along the Middle Fork Koyukuk River south of Coldfoot to the vicinity of

Dietrich Camp landing strip, in an area east of Coldfoot toward South Fork Flats, and in an area northeast of

Wiseman near Bob Johnson Lake.

Harvest History

In 2016, lynx were ranked as the third most important species by trappers in State Region III (Interior) and

fur quality was reported as prime (Parr 2016). In Unit 24, harvest of lynx fluctuated with the lynx

population cycle over the years (Figure 2; Pamperin 2013). During the “super peak” in 2000, harvest

(based on lynx sealing records) was reported as 286 individuals, whereas the harvest dropped to 10

individuals during the population low in 2005 and reached 93 during the moderate peak in 2008 (Pamperin

2013). A majority of harvest consisted of adult lynx (Table 1; Pamperin 2013, Stout 2017 pers. comm.).

Harvest was low between 2012 and 2016, corresponding to a low in the lynx population cycle during this

time and lower trapper participation in recent years (Stout 2017, pers. comm.).

Figure 2. Lynx harvest in Unit 24 based on lynx sealing records provided to the State (Pamperin 2013,

Stout 2017, pers. comm.). Data for 2016 is still being submitted, so 2016 data shown on this graph is pre-

liminary and subject to change (Stout 2017, pers. comm.).

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Lynx Harvested

Table 1. Lynx harvest in Unit 24 based on lynx sealing records provided to the State (Pamperin 2013, Stout 2017, pers. comm.). Data for 2016 is still being submitted, so 2016 data shown in this table is preliminary and subject to change (Stout 2017, pers. comm.).

Effects of the Proposal

If adopted, this proposal would add an additional 31 days to the Federal lynx trapping season in Unit 24A,

providing Federally qualified subsistence users with additional harvest opportunities.

This proposal would align the lynx trapping season with the wolverine trapping season in all of Unit 24A,

which would simplify Federal subsistence regulations. Lynx and wolverine are often trapped in the same

types of sets (Parr 2016). This would allow Federally qualified subsistence users to harvest lynx and

wolverines in the same trap line and would reduce the potential of incidental take of lynx out of season

while targeting wolverine.

Some data shows that trapping could harvest a large portion of the lynx population (USFWS 2017b). One

recent study reported that 100% of lynx fitted with radio collars near Fairbanks were trapped within a year

(USFWS 2017b). It is currently unknown if trapping of lynx in Unit 24A represents additive (i.e. in ad-

dition to natural mortality) or compensatory (i.e. does not add to what would have died naturally during

that year) mortality. It is also difficult to determine a population estimate for lynx due to the cyclical

YearLynx

Harvested

Adults

Harvested

Juveniles

Harvested

Unknown

Harvested

1999 102 101 0 1

2000 286 244 24 18

2001 212 184 25 3

2002 63 60 2 1

2003 26 25 1 0

2004 19 19 0 0

2005 10 10 0 0

2006 21 18 1 2

2007 35 31 4 0

2008 93 86 6 1

2009 61 51 6 4

2010 53 50 1 2

2011 61 55 3 2

2012 23 22 0 1

2013 10 9 0 1

2014 12 9 0 3

2015 5 5 0 0

2016 15 14 1 0

Unit 24 Reported Harvest of Sealed Lynx

nature of the population, although currently there are no indications of any biological concerns (Stout 2017,

pers. comm., USFWS 2017b).

OSM PRELIMINARY CONCLUSION

Support Proposal WP18-34.

Justification

Aligning the wolverine and lynx seasons in Unit 24A, as requested by the proponent, would provide more

opportunity for Federally qualified subsistence users and would decrease regulatory complexity. This

would also decrease the potential of illegal incidental take for trappers who use the same style trap for both

species, who may incidentally take lynx whether or not the regulations are modified.

The State (Stout 2017, pers. comm.) expressed that there is currently no biological concern pertaining to

lynx in Unit 24A. Harvest and trapper effort varies with the lynx cycle. This proposal will allow trappers

to harvest more lynx during the highs in the population cycle, which may help compensate for trapping

years when the lynx population is low or declining.

LITERATURE CITED

ADCCEA (Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Affairs). 2017. Community and Regional

Affairs: Community Index. https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/dcra/DCRAExternal/community Retrieved: August

15, 2017.

Bertram, M. 2017. Movement patterns, dispersal behavior, and survival of lynx in relation to snowshoe hare

abundance in the boreal forest: 2017 capture summary report – Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. Fairbanks, AK.

Churchwell, R. 2017. Wildlife biologist. Personal communication: email. USFWS. Fairbanks, AK.

DiFolco, D.L., K. Kielland, and J. Maier. 2017. Brooks range showshoe hares (finally) on the rise: snowshoe hare

ecology project 2016 update. Fairbanks, AK.

Holen, D., S.M. Hazell, and D.S. Koster, editors. 2012. Subsistence harvests and uses of wild foods by communities in

the eastern Interior of Alaska, 2011. ADF&G, Division of Subsistence Technical Paper No. 372. Anchorage, AK.

Hollis, A.L. 2010. Unit 24 furbearer. Pages 366-376 in P. Harper, editor. Furbearer management report of survey and

inventory activities1 July 2006 – 30 June 2009. ADF&G. Project 7.0. Juneau, AK, USA.

Joly, K., P.A. Duffy, and T.S. Rupp. 2012. Simulating the effects of climate change on fire regimes in Arctic biomes:

implications for caribou and moose habitat. Ecosphere 3(5): 36.

Jones, E. 1978. Dinaakkanaaga Ts’inh huyoza: Junior Dictionary for Central Koyukon Athabascan.

National Bilingual Materials Development Center, Division for Rural Education Affairs, University of

Alaska. Fairbanks, AK.

http://www.uafanlc.arsc.edu/data/Online/KO972J1978i/koyukon%20junior%20dictionary.pdf

Mowat, G. and B. Slough. 2003. Habitat preference of Canada lynx through a cycle in snowshoe hare abundance.

Canadian Journal of Zoology 81: 1736-1745.

Nelson, R.K., 1982. Make prayers to the raven. A Koyukon view of the northern forest. University of Chicago Press.

O'Donoghue, M., S. Boutin, C.J. Krebs, and E.J. Hofer. 1997. Numerical responses of coyotes and lynx to the

snowshoe hare cycle. Oikos 80: 150-162.

OSM. 2001. Staff Analysis WP01-44. Federal Subsistence Board Meeting Materials May 9-10, 2001. Office of

Subsistence Management, FWS, Anchorage, AK.

Pamperin, N.J. 2013. Unit 24 furbearer. Pages 330-339 in P. Harper and L.A. McCarthy, editors. Furbearer

management report of survey and inventory activities 1 July 2009-30 June 2012. ADF&G, Species Management

Report ADF&G/DWC/SMR-2013-5, Juneau, AK.

Parr, B.L. 2016. 2015 Alaska trapper report: 1 July 2015-30 June 2016. ADF&G, Wildlife Management Report

ADF&G/DWC/WMR-2016-1, Juneau, AK.

Stout, G. 2017. Galena area biologist. Personal communication: email. ADF&G. Fairbanks, AK.

USFWS. 2013. Canada lynx: Lynx Canadensis. Mountain Prairie Region. Internet:

http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/lynx/CandaLynxFactSheet_091613.pdf. Retrieved: May 26,

2017.

USFWS. 2017a. Fact/budget sheet: Movement patterns, dispersal behavior, and survival of lynx in relation to

snowshoe hare abundance in the boreal forest. Fairbanks, AK.

USFWS. 2017b. Movement patterns, dispersal behavior, and survival of lynx in relation to snowshoe hare abundance

in the boreal forest. Fairbanks, AK.

Yom-Tov, Y., S. Yom-Tov, D. MacDonald, and E. Yom-Tov. 2007. Population cycles and changes in body size of

the lynx in Alaska. Oecologia: Population Ecology. 152: 239-244. DOI: 10.1007/s00442-006-0653-3.