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  • 2003 Annual Report
    (3.1 MB pdf)
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    (272 KB pdf)
  • NLDS Report 2006
    (673 KB pdf)

2005 dens and kitten production

In 2005 4 dens were visited.  Three of the females had produced kittens last year (L07, L13, and L14) and L31 was a female that was collared in 2005.  There were 13 kittens found in 2005 at these dens, compared to 10 kittens found at 3 dens in 2004. 

Images from den visits to each of these females in 2004 and 2005 can be accessed from the “Study Animals” pulldown menu above, or directly by these links: L07, L13, L14, and L31.

These images show L13 and her year-old kitten following her.  L13 was headed back to her den, to feed her kittens.  We do not know if the kitten went back there too (no collar).

Survival of kittens born in 2004

Kitten survival in 2004 was high during the summer.  By late July L13 had moved her kittens about 3 miles to the north, there was a visual sighting of her and kittens in the Sullivan Lake Campground.  By September L13 had moved to the south again, and all 5 of here kittens were seen again.  Tracks of kittens were seen during the winter, and some of the kittens were seen feeding on a road-killed deer with their mother in February (see the pictures here).  Over the course of the winter collars were placed on 2 kittens, and a 3rd (uncollared) kitten was seen in early June, 2005. Thus, survival of L13’s kittens was at least 60% for the first year. 

At least 2 of L07’s kittens survived into the fall of 2004 and were seen on Highway 2, and were observed hunting snowshoe hare together during the 2004 deer season.  The 2 kittens were photographed in February, 2005 with their mother (see the pictures here).  VHF Kitten collars were deployed on the kittens when they were caught in live traps, K01 and K02.  Unfortunately, one of these kittens was killed in April, 2005 (see mortality section)

At least 2 of L14’s 2004 kittens were seen near the Superior National Forest sign south of Isabella in September, 2004.  One of these kittens, K04, is now wearing a collar.

We will be following movements of all of the females who had kittens this year to document kitten survival in 2005.