https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/e2e32a7cea8fa0563e4b41436c52e943.pdf 267eda9c65bdfa9cc30b3a360b88df1b PDF Text Text PROGRAi~ PROGRESS REPORT COLORADO Project No. Project Type:~__R_e_s_e_a_r_c_h________ SE - 3 - 2 Job No. 2 Work Plan No. __I..._I=I~-------Job Title: Endangered Wildlife Investigations: Lynx and Wolverine Verifcation Period Covered: Personnel: October 1, 1978 to April 30, 1979 Steven J. Bissel, John R. Torres, James C. Halfpenny, David Nead. ABSTRACT Over 3,000 posters soliciting information were distributed to District Wildlife Hanagers, taxidermists, trappers, outfitters, libraries, universities, federal and state agencies. Museums were visited and individuals were interviewed to obtain historical background. Distributional maps were produced to evaluate the best possible areas for locating both species. Field work was conducted in four areas fo~ · wolverine and two areas for lynx. Over 400 miles of trail were searched for tracks and signs. Trained dogs were used to verify "cat" tracks. Baited hair snags were set to obtain hair samples. One wolverine shot near the Colorado-Utah border was processed during the project. J· ~ Two lynx were tracked in the central portion of Colorado. Compilation of reports and sightings indicate that both the wolverine and the lynx probably still have breeding populations in Colorado. further work is needed to verify wolverine existence. However, The known population of Coloradoan lynx should be monitored to determine their range and evaluate habitat. i 1iliilOOiWiiOO~ BDOW021592 �TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Program Segment Narrative • 1 Methods and Materials 1 Results 2 Discussion 3 .... . . Literature Cited ·~ ii 7 �-~3 r LYNX AND WOLVERINE VERIFICATION \~ PROGRAM SEGMENT NARRATIVE Due to the lack of data, it is impossible to determine the current status of either the lynx (Lynx canadensis)or the wolverine (Gulo gulo) in Colorado. Only two confirmed wolverine reports have been made in recent years while confirmed lynx reports number but ten (Bissell, 1978a and 1978 b; Halfpenny et. al., 1979 and in press; T.errill, 1970). Little is known about their natural history in Colorado and essential habitat has not~been determined (Bissel, 1978a). Armstrong (1972), Lechleitner (1969), and Warren (1942) list historical records of both species. No published ecological studies exist for either mammal in the continental United States. European literature indicates that the diet of the wolverine consists mainly of cervid species with hare (Lepus) and ptarmigan (Alopex) often of minor importance. of the lynx consists largely of hares. The diet The wolverine primarily subsists as a scavenger while the lynx is an active predator. Both animals, under the right conditions, can kill large ungulates. Both mammals are mainly boreal in distribution, being found at or above timberline in dense conifer forests and rocky areas. Denning areas have not been investigated in the States. The purpose of this study was to verify wolverine and lynx populations and determine their range within Colorado. METHODS AND MATERIALS Reports of wolverine and lynx were solicited from the public by distributing over 3,000 posters to District Wildlife Manager, taxidermists, trappers, outfitters, libraries, universities, federal and state agencies and using radio, television, and newspaper stories. Based on the descriptions given, reports were identified as to species of mammal observed and the quality of the report was then determined. Reliable reports were used to determine main geographic areas of interest. Museums were visited and interviews conducted to obtain �2 historical information to compare to the reports that were received. Based on the quality and quantity of reports, four main areas possibly supporting wolverine populations were selected for field work. In these areas, baited hair snags (cylinders made out of hardware cloth and barbed wire; Hummel, 1978) were placed. Trails were searched by snowmobiles and crosscountry skis to locate mammal tracks. Two areas were selected for lynx verifications work. and skis were again used to search trails for tracks. and houndsman was retained. Snowmobiles A local trapper His trained dogs were used to verify "cat" tracks. RESULTS From February 1, 1979 to April 30, 1979, project personnel, District Wildlife Managers, and volunteers traveled over 2500 miles on 420 miles of trail. During this time two lynx were trailed on the Frying Pan River. These tracks represent the first reports of lynx since 1974. Six recent lynx reports and three older reports were obtained from interviews. Two previously unreported mounted lynx specimens were observed. One of these animals, trapped on the Vail ski slopes, is now in the law enforcement office of the Division. The other, which was trapped near Guanella Pass, resides in the Jefferson County Outdoor School collection. A third lynx (reported by Terrill, 1971) is in the private collection of Pete Sherwood. The three lynx were harvested in 1974, 1972, and 1969 respectively. On October 25, 1978, project personnel monitored the release by private individuals of a male and a female wolverine at a site about 15 miles due south of Aspen. These animals, trapped in Canada about three months before the release, were part of a movie being filmed by Stouffer Enterprises and John Denver. No reports have been received by the Division office indicating that these animals have been observed. Early in the project, pieces of a wolverine skull found in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, were sent to the Division. It was not possible to determine how long the animal had been dead but a reasonable guess maybe between 10 and 25 years. �J Both tracking and hair snags failed to provide evidence of wolverine. Although hair was obtained from 30% of the hair snags, no wolverine hair was found. Aproximately 60 reports may have actually observed wolverine. Of the 60 reports, 25 were rated as probable sightings and 35 as possible sightings, a lower quality category. On March 15, 1979, a male wolverine in reproductive condition was shot near the Colorado-Utah border. Due.to legal hassles revolving around the exact location of the death of the animal, the individual has retained the animal and will not allow it to be used for scientific investigations. The animal however must have had at least part of its range in Colorado, if not all of its range. Data from reports, museums and interviews were used to construct distributional maps for Colorado (fig-. 1 and 2). Results of this study were presented at the Colorado - Wyoming Academy of Science. Lynx distributional information has been incorporated into a paper to be submitted to the Journal of Marnrnalogy. Bibliographic material obtained through the study will be published as part of the Bibliography~ Mustelids series. Finally, Mammalian Species has agreed to publish our Wolverine Mammalian Species which will be completed during the coming year. DISCUSSION Wolverine verification: The wolverine killed in northwestern Colorado and several very credible reports indicate that a small population exists in Colorado. Evaluation of sighting reports indicate populations may be highest south and southwest of the Flat Tops in Garfield County and on the west, south, and east sides of North Park in Jackson County. These two areas should be intensively worked during another field season. lines should be set.up and checked weekly. Hair snag Frequent runs should be made on snow covered trails to check for tracks. �4 Lynx verification: Tracks and records indicate a small population of lynx in Pitkin, Eagle, and Lake Counties. Further work will undoubtably expand the known range of this population. It is highly probable that work in other remote areas of similar habitat will disclose additional populations. The Colorado lynx population represents the existance of lynx at their extreme limits.Knowledge of this population important. is therefore very Our field work indicates that· lynx are ..."rare" in Colorado, and more knowl~dge is needed before their status can be evaluated. �Colorado Wolverine Reports State map shown is overlayed with a 9,000 foot contour.. * 41 - r Skull of a Wolverine received from Mr. Al Williams Delta, Colorado. e --- Wolverine reports received prior to verification program October 1, 1978. • ---Wolverine reports received • October 1, 1978 to April 30, 1979. Figur~ ( 1. Colorado Wolverine Reports. ( ( �• *-- C0 L 0 RAD0 L Y NX REC0 RDS Recent specimens .._ -- Tr~k records obtained by the Lynx Verification Program 1978-79 ft -- Colorado Trapper's Survey 1975 • -- Literature records from Allen (1874), Armstrong (1972), Cary (1911), Seton (1929), Warren (1906, 1942), and Young (1958). The 9,000 foot contour is shown. ------~---------------------------SOUTHERN LIMITS OF LYNX DISTRIBUTION Extralirnital records indicated by triangles. Figure 2. ( Colorado Lynx Records and the Southern Limits of Lynx Distribution. c ( �7 Literature Cited Armstrong, D. M. 1972. Distribution of Mammals in Colorado. Univ. Mus. Nat. Hist., 3:x + 1 - 415. Monogr., Bissell, s. J. 1978:1.. Pp. 76,77,80, and 81 in Torres, J. et al. 1978. Essential Habitat for Threatened or Endangered Wildlife in Colorado. Bissell, S. J. 1978b. Bissell, s. J. (ed.). 1978. Colorado Mammal Distribution Latilong Study. Colo. Div. Wild!. DOW-R-D-10 ii + 20 pp. Halfpenny, J. C., D. Nead, and S. J. Bissell. 1979. Colorado Wolverine-Lynx Verification Program • . J. Colo.-Wyo. Acad. Sci., 11(1) :89. Abst • .. Halfpenny, J. c., S. J. Bissell, and D. Nead. 1979. The southern limits of lynx (Lynx canadensis) distribution in North America with special reference to Colorado. To be submitted to J. Wildl. Man. in the fall of 1979. Hummel, J. E. 1978. Furbearer study, Sierra County, California. 1977-78. The Resource Agency, State of Calif. 21 pp. Fed. Project Report W-54-R-10. Lechleitner, R. R. Wild mammals of Colorado: their appearance, habits, distirbution, and abundance. Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder, xiv + 254 pp. Terrell, B. 1971. Lynx. Colo. Outdoors, 20(5) :19. Warren, E. R. 1942. The Mammals of Colorado. Colo. College Puhl., Gen. Ser. 19 (Sci. Ser., 46): 225-274. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mammals research pdfs Description An account of the resource Pdfs of mammals research projects by title . Pdfs are linked from this page. Includes federal aid progress reports and non federal aid progress reports. If reports cover more than one year they are combined into one pdf. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mammals Research Projects pdfs (1971-1980) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/">No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only</a>