In February 1999, Colorado biologists launched the state’s most expensive wildlife gamble, releasing wild Canada lynx into the San Juan Mountains—and within a month, four of the first five released cats were dead. Heated criticism erupted over the doomed start, but the team refused to blame the habitat.
In February 1999, Colorado state biologists began a program to reintroduce Canada lynx into the San Juan Mountains, releasing wild-caught animals from Alaska. In the first month, four of the first five released cats died, drawing heavy criticism and negative media coverage of the effort.Canada lynx had inhabited Colorado’s high-altitude forests for thousands of years. Unregulated fur trapping in t…