Stable population of lynx in Colorado after reintroduction 20 years ago
Courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife
DURANGO, Colo. (KRDO) Colorado Parks and Wildlife says there s a stable population of lynx since reintroducing them 20 years ago.
Wildlife officers have been monitoring the presence of the big-footed felines using remote cameras and wintertime snow tracking. Data shows there s between 150 and 250 in the San Juan mountains
CPW has released 218 lynx from 1999 and 2016, with each animal wearing a trackable collar. Before halting all monitoring in 2011, wildlife managers documented evidence that the wild felines were reproducing and expanding their territory.
In 2014, state biologists launched a 10-year study to begin monitoring the reintroduction s progress again.
The Canada lynx is making a comeback in Colorado.
According to a press release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), the lynx population is now comfortably within the 150-250 range in the San Juan Mountains, just 21 years after the animals reintroduction to the state.
CPW began releasing lynx in the area in 1999. Although reintroduction ceased in 2006, the organization is currently monitoring the lynx population through cameras and tracking missions in southwest Colorado.
However, it is nearly impossible for biologists to get an exact population count due to the animals elusive nature. Instead, researchers look to see how many areas the lynx is occupying.
The Canada lynx is making a comeback in Colorado.
According to a press release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), the lynx population is now comfortably within the 150-250 range in the San Juan Mountains, just 21 years after the animals reintroduction to the state.
CPW began releasing lynx in the area in 1999. Although reintroduction ceased in 2006, the organization is currently monitoring the lynx population through cameras and tracking missions in southwest Colorado.
However, it is nearly impossible for biologists to get an exact population count due to the animals elusive nature. Instead, researchers look to see how many areas the lynx is occupying.
New Colorado Wildlife Overpass Being Added in 2021
Colorado wildlife are getting a new way to cross the road.
Construction is scheduled to start in the spring and will add several features to Highway 160 between Durango and Pagosa Springs. Currently, about 60 percent of the crashes in that region are attributed to wildlife-vehicle collisions.
Here are the projects that will be done:
Construction of a wildlife underpass structure just west of the U.S. 160 and CO 151 intersection at MP 126.8
Construction of a wildlife overpass structure just east of the U.S. 160 and CO 151 intersection at MP 127.3
Installation of an 8-foot-tall exclusion fence along both sides of U.S. 160 throughout the project limits, approximately a two-mile stretch from MP 126 - 128
Wildlife overpass and underpass will make U.S. Highway 160 safer
COLORADO ― Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Colorado Department of Transportation have partnered with the Southern Ute Indian tribe and several other organizations to construct a new wildlife mitigation project in southwest Colorado. The project, slated to begin this coming spring, will construct several features on U.S. Highway 160 between Durango and Pagosa Springs that will promote safer travel for motorists, enhance safer movement of wildlife, and reduce animal-vehicle collisions along this section of highway.
The location of the project will bring a great improvement for that section of highway, explained Scott Wait, senior terrestrial biologist for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.