Comments on: Return of the Lynx http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/ Where science collides with life, slams into culture, crashes with politics, and gets totaled. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 20:59:29 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: MadScientist http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/comment-page-1/#comment-22115 MadScientist Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:59:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/#comment-22115 @LiberalChemist: good point. "Extinct" means gone the way of the dodo - none left alive on the planet. I had the impression that the kitteh of Colorado was dead and gone and a replacement species of kitteh was brought in from Canada just so there could be some type of mid-sized wild kitteh in there. There are numerous examples of specific animal species which have disappeared from some regions but are still found in others and are not believed to be in danger of extinction. Nor would it be surprising if some people genuinely believed a species was doomed to extinction because of local decline while the same species was still thriving elsewhere. @LiberalChemist: good point. “Extinct” means gone the way of the dodo – none left alive on the planet. I had the impression that the kitteh of Colorado was dead and gone and a replacement species of kitteh was brought in from Canada just so there could be some type of mid-sized wild kitteh in there.

There are numerous examples of specific animal species which have disappeared from some regions but are still found in others and are not believed to be in danger of extinction. Nor would it be surprising if some people genuinely believed a species was doomed to extinction because of local decline while the same species was still thriving elsewhere.

]]> By: SN http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/comment-page-1/#comment-21827 SN Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:18:15 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/#comment-21827 Chemist: "Extirpation" is a good word for regional extinction. Chemist: “Extirpation” is a good word for regional extinction.

]]> By: Liberal Chemist http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/comment-page-1/#comment-21824 Liberal Chemist Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:09:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/#comment-21824 Could someone explain the proper use of the word "extinct"? I mean if these cats are "common" in another part of the country is "extinct" the right word? Is the population described here genetically unique or the same species as the ones that are common? I think this is an important distinction for when we oil up a whole "Save the (insert animal here)" campaign. Extinct might have more punch when it is reserved for situations like the condor and the whooping crane not a dimished population island separate from a large self renewing population. Just sayin'. Could someone explain the proper use of the word “extinct”? I mean if these cats are “common” in another part of the country is “extinct” the right word? Is the population described here genetically unique or the same species as the ones that are common?

I think this is an important distinction for when we oil up a whole “Save the (insert animal here)” campaign. Extinct might have more punch when it is reserved for situations like the condor and the whooping crane not a dimished population island separate from a large self renewing population.

Just sayin’.

]]> By: Bluto http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/comment-page-1/#comment-21775 Bluto Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:37:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/#comment-21775 I live in Chicago, last February Bobcat tracks were found in a Cook County forest preserve! Officials couldn't disclose the location because my neighbors are filthy animals. I live in Chicago, last February Bobcat tracks were found in a Cook County forest preserve! Officials couldn’t disclose the location because my neighbors are filthy animals.

]]> By: Linda http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/comment-page-1/#comment-21754 Linda Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:34:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/#comment-21754 Sunday Snog, and now newly discovered Lynx babies. There's hope for a brighter future yet! Sunday Snog, and now newly discovered Lynx babies. There’s hope for a brighter future yet!

]]> By: Chris Mooney http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/comment-page-1/#comment-21750 Chris Mooney Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:06:27 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/#comment-21750 Very cute, but I bet they grow up to be cats. Very cute, but I bet they grow up to be cats.

]]> By: Jeff http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/comment-page-1/#comment-21743 Jeff Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:19:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/#comment-21743 The Canadian lynx was reintroduced to Colorado in 1999. They first found kittens in 2006, and in 2007 several of the adults were apparently poached. It's good to see they've made up for the ones that were killed, hopefully there are a lot more of them around. The Canadian lynx was reintroduced to Colorado in 1999. They first found kittens in 2006, and in 2007 several of the adults were apparently poached. It’s good to see they’ve made up for the ones that were killed, hopefully there are a lot more of them around.

]]> By: MadScientist http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/comment-page-1/#comment-21711 MadScientist Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:59:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/#comment-21711 Thanks Noadi - I thought the wildcat in Colorado would be the same as the one in Arizona. I haven't seen their tracks frequently either although I've seen a lot of deer and javolina tracks and the occasional coyote track and loads of snake tracks. Thanks Noadi – I thought the wildcat in Colorado would be the same as the one in Arizona. I haven’t seen their tracks frequently either although I’ve seen a lot of deer and javolina tracks and the occasional coyote track and loads of snake tracks.

]]> By: Noadi http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/comment-page-1/#comment-21698 Noadi Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:49:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/#comment-21698 MadScientist: I'm not sure if this is the bobcat but the Canadian lynx which is a larger cat and more threatened across it's range. Bobcats and Canadian lynx are both active the most around dawn and dusk along with avoiding people so you're unlikely to see them unless you're lucky. Bobcats are common here in Maine but in my entire life I've maybe seen one a half dozen times though I see their tracks quite often. MadScientist: I’m not sure if this is the bobcat but the Canadian lynx which is a larger cat and more threatened across it’s range. Bobcats and Canadian lynx are both active the most around dawn and dusk along with avoiding people so you’re unlikely to see them unless you’re lucky. Bobcats are common here in Maine but in my entire life I’ve maybe seen one a half dozen times though I see their tracks quite often.

]]> By: Christina Viering http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/comment-page-1/#comment-21686 Christina Viering Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:06:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/06/28/return-of-the-lynx/#comment-21686 Happy to see the comeback, they are sooo cute! Happy to see the comeback, they are sooo cute!

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