The first lynx kittens in three years have been discovered by Colorado Division of Wildlife biologists. Seven males and three females in five separate dens on the western slope are good news for the re-introduction program which has struggled to establish a healthy population of the wild cats in Colorado. The species once flourished in the mountains, but by the early 1970s, lynxes had disappeared from the state. 218 lynxes from Alaska and Canada have been released, but biologists do not know how many have survived and bred successfully since many of the original telemetry collars have stopped working. Lynxes are specialist hunters that rely on snowshoe hares for their food, consequently declines in hare population have an immediate effect on lynx numbers. The den locations show that the cats are expanding their range, and are apparently finding sufficient food and habitat. Two of the litters were produced by native Colorado lynxes. 49 of the cats have active radio collars. That means the number of kittens found is probably a conservative number. Biologists are pleased with this year's survey results, and are hopeful that the program, paid for by the state lottery, will succeed in recreating a self-sustaining population of these beautiful and elusive cats. [photo credit: AP]