Between Maine’s northwest border and the St. Lawrence Seaway is a small strip of Quebec. That strip of land, approximately 50 by 100 miles, includes four of Quebec’s 96 wildlife units. Quebec trappers in those four units have the second-highest catch quota of Canadian lynx in the whole province.

I don’t think those animals are coming out of the St. Lawrence Seaway, so the only other place has to be northwestern Maine, which is where they are listed as a threatened species.

Hardly.

The placing of Canadian lynx on the threatened species list was based on politics and lies, rather than wildlife biology. In 1994, lynx were not warranted for listing as threatened, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 1998, that decision was reversed, based on a lawsuit filed in federal court by Defenders of Wildlife and 14 other groups.

It’s going some when people opposed to consumptive uses of natural resources can use federal courts to change, without biological proof, what they can’t get at the ballot box.

I would like to ask people at the Maine Audubon Society just what scientific evidence shows the Canadian lynx is showing signs of stress and declining numbers. I don’t believe there is any such evidence.

Isn’t it about time that Maine’s elected representatives started sticking up for Maine? So far, I haven’t heard a word out of any of them.

Michael Melcher, Carthage