Paul Paquet, a self-proclaimed lynx expert, provided testimony for the plaintiffs, claiming that “Maine’s population of an estimated 500 lynx is too small to be considered viable.”

Trapping Today refuted the argument in today’s post.

“Unfortunately for the animal rights groups that are relying on Paquet
as their ‘expert biologist’, however, Paquet completely failed to
mention that Maine’s estimated 500 lynx do not act as an isolated
population.  They are connected to a much larger, healthy population
that is only separated by a political line known as the U.S. – Canadian
border.”

Paquet was expected to be cross-examined today and the defense will likely bring up similar questions. It wouldn’t be the first time Paquet’s expertise came into question. Paquet is the same “expert” that concluded that the death of Kenton Joel Carnegie on Nov. 8, 2005, in northern Saskatchewan was the result of bear attack, not of an attack by a pack of wolves as had been previously concluded. Paquet’s conclusion, however, was quickly refuted by several experts. One such expert, Valerius Geist, does an excellent job explaining how off base Paquet’s conclusion was in this article.

“All the forensic sign pointing to ‘bear’, as proclaimed by Paquet, are
thus misidentifications, as the only bear that could have left such
signs at the site of the tragedy must have been suspended in mid-air,
as none of his paws reached the telltale snow. Furthermore, Paquet’s
repeated insistence that his approach alone was in the spirit and
methodology of science, and was supported by superior experience, has
demonstrably no basis, as shown by three peer reviews and the coroner’s
inquest.”

Hopefully the court recognizes the questionable “expert” testimony from a man with many ties to animal rights groups and this case ends in the defenses’ favor. The trial is expected to last through Thursday.