Colorado Lynx re-introduction project, September 2006.

11/08/2006 00:00:00 Scientists from the Colorado Division of Wildlife have discovered that the numbers of Lynx kittens born has dropped from previous years. However there was some good news when they found that a Colorado-born female lynx has had 2 kittens, both males. The cat, born in 2004, gave birth in mid-June. The number of litters and the number of lynx kittens born in 2006 is significantly down from the last 3 years. Only 4 dens were found with just 11 kittens in 2006. In 2003 six litters containing 16 kittens were found; 14 litters and 39 kittens in 2004, and 18 litters with 50 kittens in 2005.

There were more kittens born to other lynx that could not be tracked as they are not equipped with radio collars. It is thought that the number of lynx in Colorado is holding steady at about 200. Most of the cats live in the southern mountains.

The researchers are puzzled by the low number of kittens and dens in 2006 and are looking at a number of possible reasons. Despite the decline in dens, the rate of lynx mortality has not increased and most cats are staying in established territories. Examination of lynx mortalities by DOW veterinarians shows that the animals had been healthy leading biologists to think that this is not related to the amount of food available.

The DOW is not planning to release any lynx in Colorado next spring. ‘Given the high number of lynx currently out there we want to give them an opportunity to settle down and establish a stable social structure,’ said Rick Kahn, a Department of Wildlife manager. ‘We have some indication from our radio-marked animals that adding new adults, via the spring releases, to the established population may be disrupting breeding.’

DOW biologists will continue to monitor lynx movements. A new study of snowshoe hare ecology has also started.

A total of 218 lynx from Canada and Alaska have been released in the Creede area in 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006. Field crews have found a total of 116 kittens during the spring and winter searches in 2003-2006.