Wildlife researchers have documented the birth of 36 Canada lynx in Colorado this year, spurring hopes that the species will become established. At least 85 of the 166 cats released in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado five years ago are known to be alive.
Most encouraging to wildlife biologists is that several lynx that had kittens last year had more this year. "Putting a litter out every year shows they're in good habitat," Tanya Shenk, the program's lead researchers, told The Associated Press.
While all the mothers are lynx that were transplanted from Canada or Alaska, the next major goal is reproduction by lynx born in Colorado.