No lynx kittens found in search

DURANGO —For the second year in a row, the Colorado Division of Wildlife found no lynx kittens in its annual search.

Researchers believe the lack of lynx reproduction could be related to a decline in the snowshoe hare population, the lynx’s primary prey.

The adult population is stable and lynx continue to show encouraging signs they are adapting well to Colorado, the DOW reported. Survival of lynx born in Colorado is remaining steady. The body condition of lynx captured during winter trapping has been good. Also, lynx population fluctuation is known to be a natural occurrence in the northern part of their range.

Observations suggest hare population has been down from just a few years ago. DOW biologists believe adult lynx are finding enough food to survive, but the females may not be finding enough high-quality food to give birth.

In Canada, the population of hares fluctuates naturally in multi-year cycles, along with the population of lynx. It is unknown if snowshoe hare populations in Colorado cycle, but recent trends suggest some fluctuation.

DOW research show lynx are establishing good social structures and exhibiting breeding behavior.

Studies also shows a large percentage of the lynx radio collars have stopped operating and the vast majority of kittens born have not been fitted with transmitters. Therefore, DOW estimates of lynx survival and the number of kittens produced is very conservative.

The reintroduction of the animals in Colorado started in 1999 and since then 218 animals have been released and the DOW has recorded the birth of 116 kittens.

During the winter, the DOW traps adult lynx to replace radio collars and to check the general health of the animals. The cats trapped during the last two winters were in good shape and showed the mortality rate was low, explained Tanya Shenk, field research leader for the DOW’s reintroduction program.

“The cats are finding enough to eat. We are very pleased with their body condition and the survival rate,” said Shenk. “We have documented reproduction by reintroduced animals and we have had reproduction by animals born in Colorado. We know they can function fully in our environment.”

A study to examine snowshoe hare population in the Taylor Park area is being funded by DOW.

Researchers are still regularly monitoring 50 of the original 218 lynx released and collared in Colorado and have documented 109 known deaths.

The DOW started planning the lynx reintroduction program in 1997. Cats brought from Alaska and Canada were released in Colorado’s southern mountains in 1999 and 2000, and between 2003 to 2006. A total of 116 lynx kittens are known to have been born in Colorado.

The lynx reintroduction program is funded by the DOW, Great Outdoors Colorado which receives it’s funding through the Colorado State Lottery and private donors.