The latest Colorado outdoor fashion: the radio-locating collar

In what seems like a story from The Far Side, the wildlife biologists in Colorado aren’t watching the animals with radio-tracking collars, they’re watching the people.

According to this story, biologists near Vail, Colorado are study reintroduced lynx populations and wondered how human backcountry use affects the animals.  So, someone came up with the idea of using the radio collars on both bobcats and backpackers.

Under the plan, skiers and snowmobilers in the Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area are required to carry GPS-equipped devices that record their movements.  This data will be plotted against radio-equipped lynxes to see how and when the felines avoid humans.  Together, the information will help determine if people are negatively impacting the elusive cats.

We can only imagine the scene:

Two biologists are preparing the radio collar, checking batteries and making sure the GPS receiver is working properly.  Once the equipment is ready, they set up the capture nets and retreat to a blind.

After a few hours of waiting, one biologist softly speaks to his coworker-

“Jim, there is a big male approaching the bait.  Wait….wait….he’s got it!  Fire the nets!!”

With that, the assistant biologist presses a button and rocket nets launch over the animal.  The big male twists, turns and fights the entangling net, baring teeth and threatening anyone who approaches.

“Easy, easy, big fella.  It’s all right.  Here you go,” the man says as he administers a tranquilizer so they can safely approach the nets.

As soon as the enraged snowmobiler gulps down the 12-pack of Miller Lite, the wildlife experts will begin to attach the radio collar…..

photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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