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Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, January 14-17, 2017 B-7 The Park Record Video of a Colorado lynx, now dead, gives insight into human-wildlife interactions Kevin Fixler Summit Daily SUMMIT COUNTY, Colo.— An 18-second video watched nearly a million times instantly made a lynx, casually traversing a ski slope in Durango, internet famous. The story, however, had an unfortunate ending when the animal was found dead this past Sunday. Other footage of the animal from several guests at Purgatory Resort in the days that followed soon surfaced, and that began to raise red flags with state officials, who advise people to keep a safe distance from wildlife, and to look for telltale signs of declining health in order to file a report with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Officials also said people should have noticed the lynx did not seem healthy and should have contacted authorities. “The first time I saw a video, I didn’t think that much of it,” said Scott Wait, a Colorado Parks and Wildlife senior terrestrial biologist. “We’re kind of in an epicenter of lynx here in southern Colorado, and it’s absolutely cool for me and absolutely cool for citizens. But as that behavior was repeated in several different videos at several different places around Purgatory, each one of them increased my concern.” The lynx’s behavior, which indicated the animal might have been ill, was not totally out of the ordinary, given increased human-animal interactions as the outdoors become more crowded, but the repeated appearance of the lynx was troubling. Park and Wildlife retrieved the carcass from the west side of the resort and will eventually release the results of a necropsy, an animal autopsy, including analysis of the contents of the animal’s stomach and inspection for parasites and injuries. An initial examination showed the animal to be underweight. The state agency wished to emphasize that just because a wild animal, be it a moose, fox, deer or lynx, looks skinny, it’s no explicit reason for alarm. A lean physique is often the nature of these animals depending on the season. In addition, simply running into wildlife does not mean it is unwell. Lynx and mountain lions are reclusive animals, and spotting one alone is not reason to file a report. Both roam in areas of Summit County. Lynx were reintroduced in the state in 1999 with more than 200 transplanted from Canada and Alaska over the next seven years. Since then, multiple generations have been born, and they’re commonly known to pursue snowshoe hares within lodgepole pine-forested sections south of Breckenridge near Copper Mountain and Vail Pass. The markers of potentially unhealthy wildlife are whether an animal appears lethargic and fatigued, or — like the lynx in Durango that caught the attention of so many over the holidays — relatively unresponsive. Any form of discharge from the animal’s eyes, nose or rectum is also a condition that would suggest the animal might be ill. A typically nocturnal animal being active and in search of food during the day is another warning sign. Parks and Wildlife is always willing to take calls if people have concerns about an animal so they can come and assess the situation. A scenario where a predator presents an obvious danger to a human or pet would be the time to start dialing. “That’s foremost on our mind and our response,” Wait said. “We’re not going to tolerate a dangerous animal acting dangerous around people.” What remains true and of utmost importance is wild ani- mals need to maintain a healthy fear of humans. That means not feeding wildlife, no matter how hungry they might appear, locking away trash so moose, foxes and raccoons aren’t consistently attracted to places populated by people, and immediately removing birdseed feeders from the yard if deer, elk or bears begin to show up. What specifically might have ailed the lynx in Durango won’t be known for a few weeks. Diseases such as the plague are not uncommon among wildlife that eat infected rodents. Another possibility is the animal was injured to the extent that it could not adequately catch prey. Its hunger may have made it unaware of possible hazards, such as people on a ski slope. Wait did not wish to speculate, but was complimentary of how most everyone treated the rare sighting of the elusive animal. “People around it were very well behaved, people stayed put and the lynx went where it wanted,” he said. “That’s a nice thing to see. In a subsequent video, somebody was following the lynx and that’s behavior I discourage.” “Don’t encourage habituation through food or shelter, or activity,” Wait added. “That generally just doesn’t end well for an animal.” Relax Easy Buying or Selling a Home is Joel Fine • 435-901-2171 joel@FineProperty.com (www.justcalljoel.com) Submit event recaps, photos and news about local clubs/groups/ nonprofits to arts@ parkrecord.com Some of the pets at Nuzzles & Co. looking for love These animals are available to be seen at the Nuzzles & Co. Adoption Center and Rescue Ranch. Our Adoption Center is open Monday through Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is located in the Tanger Outlets in Kimball Junction. Our Rescue Ranch is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Sunday. The Rescue Ranch is located at 6466 N. Highview Road in Peoa. Chamonix Sheldon Princess Blue Ivy Chamonix is a beautiful 2-yearold pit bull terrier mix. She is a total sweetheart and loves to give love. Chamonix raised and cared for a litter of six puppies, and now that they’ve all been adopted. It’s time for this sweet mama to find a forever home of her own. Sheldon is a 2-year-old Rottweilerhound mix. He’s very outgoing and would be a great first dog. He does well on a leash but could use some work on basic commands. Sheldon would do best in a house with no cats or young children, but he’d likely do well with other dogs. Princess is a beautiful 3-year-old pit bull terrier. She is a happy girl who loves being around people. She knows her basic obedience commands and is fully housetrained and crate-trained. Princess needs to be an only pet. She deserves all the attention to herself. Blue Ivy is a 6-year-old Chihuahua mix. She is very energetic and needs a family who can keep her active. She is a fun-loving dog who will be a great companion for years to come. She gets along well with most other animals when given a proper introduction, too. Kala Alice Snuffy T-Rex Kala is a 7-year-old domestic longhair with a gorgeous orange coat. She is a calm, friendly cat who is always happy to see her favorite people. Kala would love a relaxed forever home where she can spend her days lounging and cuddling with her family. Alice is a beautiful 4-year-old domestic longhair. This sweet cat came to us with a badly ulcerated eye that needed to be removed. She feels great and gets along fine with only one eye. Alice is a gentle cat who loves people and gets along with other cats. Snuffy is a tabby and white domestic shorthair. He’s about 11 years old, and would love to find a forever home where he can be someone’s best friend. He loves attention and is happiest wherever his people are. This sweet boy is a total lovebug. His name may sound big and tough, but T-Rex is really just a big nuzzle monster. He’s about 4 years old and likes to spend time with humans and other cats, and he could possibly share a home with dogs. T-Rex is just a big softy with an even bigger heart. Wanted: Volunteers These not-for-profit organizations are looking for volunteers. If you would like to include your group in this section, please email information to copyeditor@parkrecord.com. Please limit your entry to no more than 75 words. Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter needs volunteers. Each Saturday, there are several shifts that support the front desk staff during open hours. Give museum tours, run the climbing wall, greet guests and more. Volunteers must enjoy working with the public and have a passion for the natural world. On weekdays, the EcoCenter also can use office support. Call Gail Piccoli for more information 435-797-8956 or gail.piccoli@usu.edu. Volunteer Drivers Wanted Summit County is looking for volunteers to drive senior citizens to their doctor appointments in Salt Lake City. Any interested individuals would need to go through background and driving-record checks and should expect to dedicate four to six hours on Tuesdays. Individuals interested in volunteering as well as any seniors interested in using the service should contact Heather Nalette, Summit County senior citizens coordinator, at 435-336-3014. The Utah 1033 Foundation The Utah 1033 Foundation is a statewide nonprofit that provides immediate financial assistance to families of fallen Utah police officers and educational assistance for the dependents of active officers. The foundation is looking for dedicated volunteers interested in staffing various events throughout the year and/or working with its fundraising team. Interested? Send an email to info@utah1033.org. Youth Enrichment Services YES, Youth Enrichment Services, is a not-for-profit organization of professionals who specialize in local small-business enrichment programs and services for children in the Park City community. The mission of YES is to provide parents with free information and resources while supporting local businesses. Check out Yespc.org. YES needs volunteers to help with a variety of projects. YES is flexible and would appreciate any help. The group is also looking for a high school/college intern to help with upcoming growth plans and events. Please contact Rebecca Tibbits at 718-916-7136 or rebecca@yespc.org. After-School Literacy Program Spend an afternoon helping a student with reading, writing or a critical-thinking-based project in this fun, free, after-school, oneon-one, tutoring center. Mega-Genius Supply Store and IQ HQ (435 Swede Alley and 1153 Center Drive, Suite G-230 at Newpark) needs adult volunteer tutors to help children find their inner genius. The center is open at both locations Monday through Thursday from 2:30-5:45 p.m. for students in grades two through 12. Please contact Jaimie for more information: jatlas@parkcity. institute, or 435-655-8252. Alf Engen Ski Museum Alf Engen Ski Museum Foundation is seeking volunteers to help with museum operation/tours and archive collections. Responsibilities include overseeing interactive and virtual exhibits in the museum; guiding and educating visitors about the history of skiing and snow sports; and digitally archiving museum collections. Volunteers must enjoy interacting with the public and have a passion for ski and snow sports history. If interested, email connie@ utaholympiclegacy.com, or call 435-658-4240. Applegate Home Care & Hospice Applegate Home Care & Hospice is welcoming volunteers to join its team of caring professionals who dedicate their lives to helping others. The hospice volunteer offers service, compassion and a listening ear to clients and their families. If you would like to volunteer or want to learn more about volunteering with Applegate, please contact the hospice volunteer coordinator at 800-8710102 or visit applegatehomecare.com. Arts-Kids Arts-Kids is in need of volunteers for our spring session. Sign up now to participate in one of Arts-Kids eight-week after-school groups in Summit and Wasatch counties beginning in midFebruary. After-school volunteer time commitment is one day per week for three hours after school. We also have office volunteer opportunities. For a full list of volunteer opportunities, visit parkrecord.com/volunteers. You set the scene |