On Thursday, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced that new federal protections for Canada lynx will be extended to Northern New Mexico. Since 2000, these species have been listed as threatened with extinction under the Endangered Species Act. The list protected lynx in 14 states, but not in New Mexico.

Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) possess iconic tufted ears and large padded paws. They live in mature boreal forests with dense cover and deep snowpack and were classified as a threatened species in 2000 under the Endangered Species Act. The law broadly bans killing or injuring imperiled animals without a special permit.

WildEarth Guardians, a nonprofit conservation organization working to protect and restore the wildlife, wild places, wild rivers and health of the American West applauded the fact the new rule extended safeguards to all lynx. However, the environmental groups have criticized the announcement.

They are disappointed that the FWS has excluded all occupied lynx habitat in the Southern Rockies, from southern Wyoming, throughout Colorado, and into northern New Mexico, from the species' critical habitat designation. This exclusion also extends to important lynx habitat in parts of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and other states in the species' range.

Drew Kerr, carnivore advocate for WildEarth Guardians said, "By ignoring huge swaths of currently occupied lynx habitat, the Service is undermining lynx recovery efforts yet again .To survive threats, including climate change, motorized recreation, development, logging, and fossil fuel extraction, lynx need habitat protections throughout their range".

His group and the Western Environmental Law Center (WELC) challenged the "inadequate" designation in federal court by filed a lawsuit Monday against Idaho wildlife officials.

According to them, the state failed to restrict illegal trappings that endanger the imperiled Canada lynx.

However, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) denied the imperiled animal designated critical habitat in the Southern Rockies of New Mexico, Colorado and portions of Wyoming, as they were regarded non-essential to the conservation of the species.