Final signature count: 17,243

17,243 signatures toward our 30,000 goal

Canada Lynx are felines that live in North America’s boreal forests and are protected by the federal Endangered Species Act, with only 50 to 200 believed to be living in Minnesota at any given time¹. Since 2008, the DNR has recorded at least nine lynx accidentally trapped in Minnesota².

A federal judge has since ordered the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to stop using most snares in northeastern Minnesota to protect the endangered Canada Lynx³. The order comes after the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit against the DNR. The order applies to the Lynx Management Zone, which covers most of northeastern Minnesota. It prohibits the use of neck snares unless they are set in water or have measures in place to prevent catching and killing lynx⁴. The use of leg-hold traps that are large enough to capture lynx is also banned⁵.

The use of snares has long been a point of controversy among environmentalists and animal welfare advocates. Opponents argue that these traps are inhumane and often catch unintended animals, leading to injuries and deaths⁶. The Minnesota Trappers Association and other industry groups have opposed the recent consent decree, arguing that trapping is a vital part of Minnesota’s heritage and economy⁷.

However, the federal judge ruled in favor of the consent decree, stating that it was “fair, reasonable, and consistent with the governing law⁸.” The Lynx Management Zone essentially covers most of northeastern Minnesota and prohibits the use of strangulation snares unless they are set in water or have several precautions in place to prevent accidentally catching and killing lynx⁹. Leg-hold traps that are large enough to capture lynx are also banned. These new regulations are designed to prevent the needless and agonizing deaths of these rare cats, as well as other unintended victims like dogs.

Trapping is not only cruel, but it is also an inefficient and unsustainable method of controlling animal populations¹⁰. Studies have shown that trapping can actually increase populations of certain animals and lead to the spread of disease¹¹. Furthermore, the use of snares and other trapping methods can cause damage to the environment and disrupt the delicate balance of ecosystems. This can lead to the extinction of species and the loss of biodiversity, which is essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems and a habitable planet¹².

The recent ruling follows a lawsuit filed in 2020 and extensive negotiations between the DNR and Center for Biological Diversity¹³. With these new regulations in place, the risk of accidentally trapping and killing Canada lynx or other unintended victims will be significantly reduced, but the risk will not be eliminated unless the use of snares and other trapping methods are completely banned, particularly in areas where endangered species make their habitat.

The protection of endangered species is crucial for the health of our ecosystems and the survival of future generations. Sign the petition and urge the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to ban the use of snares in the Lynx Management Zone and throughout the state of Minnesota where endangered species make their habitat!