Recent research projects; Not all inclusive |
Post-release Monitoring of Lynx Reintroduced to Colorado - Led by Tanya Shenk, this project is documenting the status of lynx reintroduced into Colorado beginning in 1999. Between 1999 and 2007, 218 lynx were released in the San Juan mountains of southwestern Colorado. Lynx were obtained for the reintroduction in cooperation with trappers in Alaska and several Canadian provinces and territories. Many of the released lynx remained within the core release area. Reproduction was first documented in 2003 with subsequent successful reproduction in 2004-2006. However, no 
successful dens were documented in 2007 or 2008. The first successful reproduction by a female lynx born in Colorado from introduced parents occurred in 2006. Snowshoe hare and red squirrel have been the primary prey of lynx with the varying abundance of snowshoe possibly related to the degree of successful reproduction by lynx. Lynx have shown an affinity to use mature Engelmann spruce-subalpine fir forest communities. Lynx are being recaptured yearly to maintain functioning radio-collars on a portion of the lynx population in order to monitor the ongoing establishment of lynx in Colorado. (updated 12/2008)
Density, Demography, and Seasonal Movements of Snowshoe Hare in Colorado - Led by Jake Ivan, PhD candidate with support from Tanya Shenk and Dr. Gary White of Colorado State University, this project is assessing the survival rates and relative population density of snowshoe hare in various successional stages of lodgepole pine forest communities. The project, centered in the Taylor River northeast of Gunnision, CO, seeks to better understand how extensive lodgepole pine communities may support snowshoe hares and therefore provide useable habitat for the reintroduced lynx. Using a trapping grid approach, hares are being captured and either PIT tagged or radio-collared to monitor density, survival, and recruitment during summer and winter. The project was initiated in 2006 and will end in 2009. (updated 12/2008)
Forthcoming Lynx Research - Led by Tanya Shenk, the lynx monitoring effort will evolve to developing techniques to estimate whether lynx successfully colonize portions of Colorado and become a self-sustaining population. Currently in the planning stage, this research will likely evaluate the occupancy modeling techniques as a non-invasive method to document the establishment of lynx. This research could begin in 2009. (updated 12/2008)