2 Lynxes Reintroduced to Habitat in Colorado Mountain Wilds

SOUTH FORK, Colo. —  Two female lynx from Canada bounded into the snowy Colorado wilderness Wednesday, marking the latest reintroduction of a species to the West.

The lynx, whose thick brown-gray coat once lured trappers into the Colorado back-country, was last seen in the state in 1973 near Vail. Last fall, an underground environmental group said it set damaging fires at the Vail ski resort to protect lynx habitat.

The two animals released by wildlife officials were trapped in British Columbia and trucked 1,700 miles to southern Colorado. Officials chose a broad, open space on private land at 9,200 feet near the Rio Grande National Forest.

Wildlife officer Bill Andree and biologist Gene Byrne, flanked by about two dozen journalists and other biologists, opened the two metal cages containing the sleek wildcats with tufted ears.

The first had to be coaxed out, but the second darted quickly toward the trees and the 13,000-foot snowy peaks towering in the background, as the crowd applauded.

State officials plan to release two wildcats, one male and one female, today and phase in the release of seven more. In all, they hope to release 110 wildcats in high mountains over the next two years.

Their efforts have been resisted by ranchers, farmers, hunting outfitters and residents who live and work in wildlife areas. They fear that the reintroduction may lead to land-use restrictions in national forest areas and that the animals may attack livestock.

It is part of a broader effort by environmentalists and others to reestablish species of predators in the West to complete ecosystems, said Dan Chu, regional organizer for the National Wildlife Federation in Boulder.

Wildlife activists say the reintroduction of the wolf into Yellowstone National Park has been a great success.