FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Eight Conservation Groups Contribute $3,400 to Lynx Poaching Reward

Eight conservation groups today announced that they will contribute $3,400 to the Colorado Division of Wildilfe's reward for information leading to a conviction in the suspected poaching of two lynx. The Division of Wildlife yesterday reported that someone likely poached a lynx and put its radio tracking collar in a Post Office mail box in Silverton.

Yesterday, the Colorado Division of Wildlife reported that someone likely poached a lynx and put its radio tracking collar in a post office mail box in Silverton. A second lynx collar was found today near Missionary Ridge, further undermining the success of Colorado’s lynx release program.

As a result, eight conservation groups – Sinapu, Center for Native Ecosystems, San Juan Citizens Alliance, Wilderness Workshop, High Country Citizens’ Alliance, Colorado Wild, Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project, and Prairie Preservation – announced that they will contribute another $3,400 to the Division of Wildlife’s reward for information leading to the conviction of a person charged with the crime of illegally killing a lynx.

Since 1999, 204 Canadian-born lynx have been released into the rugged mountains of Colorado. Since 1999, at least 72 Colorado-released lynx have died, including eight that were known to be poached, six that were probably shot, and at least nine hit by vehicles.

"Citizen groups have been invaluable to the process of getting lynx on the ground in Colorado," said Wendy Keefover-Ring of Sinapu. "We led a number of grassroots campaigns, one to ensure that the Wildlife Commission allowed population augmentations and others to ensure that their habitat is conserved for the long term."

"By adding to the reward fund, we hope we can help the Division of Wildlife protect lynx across the state," said Jacob Smith, Executive Director of Center for Native Ecosystems. "Coloradans will not tolerate poaching of our native wildlife."

"We are glad to welcome lynx back to the San Juan Mountains, and we want to make sure they thrive and survive. Sadly, their main threats come from humans," said Mark Pearson, Executive Director of San Juan Citizens Alliance.

"The lynx reintroduction program has been one of Colorado’s great conservation successes," said the Wilderness Workshop’s Executive Director Sloan Shoemaker. "If these rare animals are being poached, we want to nip it in the bud ASAP."

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