New York DEC Excludes Wolves, Cougars, and Canada Lynx from State Wildlife Action Plan
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released its final State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), which notably excludes wolves, cougars, and Canada lynx from the Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) list. This decision comes despite advocacy from organizations like Protect the Adirondacks, which argued for their inclusion due to confirmed presences in nearby states and suitable habitat within New York. The DEC justified the exclusion by stating a focus on resident species with existing populations at risk of decline. However, critics argue that adding these three species would not significantly impede conservation efforts for the 570 species already on the list. The final SWAP also reinstated the Common Loon to the SGCN list, a change that Protect the Adirondacks had urged after its removal in the draft version. Additionally, a recommendation for legislative authority to establish a moose hunting season, initially present in the draft, was removed from the final plan.
