A Forest Service investigation found that a group of seven federal and state wildlife biologists planted false evidence of a rare cat species in two national forests in the state of Washington. The group introduced conspicuous samples of lynx hair into the wild that DNA tests later determined were from two lynxes who did not live in the wild. Had the hoax gone undiscovered, many forms of recreation and natural resource usage would likely have been banned. As for punishment, the employees have all been counseled for their actions and banned from participating in the three-year study of the lynx.

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