Colorado undertook to establish lynx in the San Juan Range of SW
Colorado.  The initial introductions were, at least, a public relations
disaster.  The releases were followed by drought.  The usual food
supplies of lynx, especially snowshoe hares, were close to nonexistant.
Some lynx were found dead and necropsies showed they had starved.
Animal rights group attacked the Colorado DNR -- Stupid Government,
etc.  It was at least an issue for them to gain publicity.

It is good to hear that the lynx are now doing well.  I guess the lesson
here should be that dealing with nature is never precise.  Intelligent
biologists cannot guarantee outcomes.  In one sense it makes us
skeptical that we can rebuild nature at our will, e.g. breed endangered
species in zoos and expect them to do well in the wild; reconstruct a
wetland to mitigate a housing tract.  Perhaps we should also learn a
generosisty of spirit toward well intentioned experiments.  Lanny
Schwartz

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