Conservation groups and the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or people who shot two endangered Canadian lynx in the southwestern part of the state.
The lynx is listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Federal law prohibits killing the animal. Killing or trapping them is punishable by fines of up to $100,000, according to state law.
Two lynx were found shot on consecutive days last week. One was discovered Nov. 2 near Durango Mountain Resort; the other was found Nov. 1 north of Silverton, according to the DOW.
The DOW has been reintroducing lynx in the Colorado mountains since 1999. Most of the lynx in the state are equipped with radio collars to track their activities, which is how the two dead cats were located earlier this month.
No one has been arrested in either case yet.
Anyone with information on the lynx shootings is asked to call the DOW office in Durango, Colo., at (970) 375-6744, or Operation Game Thief at (877) 265-6648. Information can be given anonymously.