Lynx Reintroduction in Colorado

Canadian Lynx Were Relocated in 1999 to Southwestern Colorado

Sep 16, 2009

Lynx became extinct in Colorado in the seventies. Recent efforts to repopulate their former habitat have seen slow progress and human induced obstacles.

Prior to the 1900s, lynx (Lynx canadensis) occupied mountain forests in Colorado. Their population decreased over the years and they were soon considered rare. In 1973, the last known lynx in Colorado was shot and killed. The lynx is prevalent in northern states and throughout Canada. However, the Colorado lynx habitat was too isolated for re-population to occur through the natural migration of northern lynx into Colorado. In the late 1990s, efforts were undertaken by the Division of Wildlife to reintroduce lynx to Colorado.

The First Years of Lynx Reintroduction

The first lynx to be relocated were captured in Canada and Alaska in 1999 and transported to the southwestern mountains of Colorado. They were released in February which proved to be too early in the year. The snowshoe hare, the lynx’s main prey, was not in a high population at this time of year and the lynx suffered from hunger and several died from starvation.

The first few years of the reintroduction were particularly hard for the lynx to establish a stable population. Forty-three of the ninety-six lynx released in the first few years died from a variety of causes. Some of the known causes of lynx mortality include illness, vehicle collision, shot, predation and starvation. A few of the lynx wandered far from the reintroduction area, putting them in greater danger and obviously preventing them from repopulating southwestern Colorado.

Lynx Captivity

The Colorado Division of Wildlife continued to capture Canadian lynx for reintroduction into Colorado over the next few years. They began holding the captured lynx for three months in order to fatten them up before their release into the new habitat. This method helped to decrease mortality rates and in 2003 the first sighting of lynx kittens was documented.

Lynx Kittens

Overall, the Colorado lynx population seemed to be improving. In 2005 a total of 50 kittens were found, the highest amount so far. The next year brought the first litter of kittens from a Colorado born female. Unfortunately, the total number of lynx born in 2006 declined at just eleven kittens having been found. The next two years, 2007 and 2008, no kittens or dens were observed.

Prey Species and Habitat

One possible explanation for the sudden drop in reproduction is a decrease in prey species. As mentioned earlier, the main prey of lynx is snowshoe hares however; they also eat smaller animals including red squirrels. If either of these prey specie populations had dropped low enough, it could have prevented reproduction. Habitat loss may be another explanation as lynx have specific habitat needs for their dens. They tend to prefer mature stands of Englemann spruce and other fir trees at subalpine altitudes.

The last year that the Colorado Division of Wildlife introduced Canadian lynx to Colorado was 2006, bringing the total number of released lynx to 218. Researchers know of at least sixteen adult Colorado born lynx and continue to monitor the movement of collared lynx.

Threats to the Colorado Lynx Population

Colorado lynx face a range of threats from hunters, vehicles, increasing habitat loss, starvation and predation. Through this adversity, lynx have persisted in Colorado. There are simple steps that can ensure their continued presence in southwestern Colorado. The lynx reintroduction area includes land from the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Both of these federal agencies may allow special use of this land, including gas and oil production, logging and mining, which would mean loss of habitat, decreased prey as well as an increase of roads throughout lynx habitat.

Reintroducing lynx to Colorado was a huge undertaking for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. The lack of protection to lynx habitat could not only endanger the 103 lynx that have struggled to survive but it would also waste the effort and money of the Colorado Division of Wildlife and other sources that have funded this expensive project. Although the lynx reintroduction suffered a setback in the lack of litters over the past two years, there is now tremendous reason for hope as field workers have recently discovered ten kittens in June 2009.

The copyright of the article Lynx Reintroduction in Colorado in Wildlife Preservation is owned by Jacqueline Lerche. Permission to republish Lynx Reintroduction in Colorado in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.