The Rio Grande Trail reopened Wednesday between Rock Bottom Ranch and Catherine Bridge after a lack of mountain lion activity for a week, the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority announced.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers gave the green light to open the trail, according to Brett Meredith, RFTA trails manager. The 3-mile section of trail was closed June 28 after numerous pedestrians and cyclists spotted three cougar kittens. Wildlife officials said at the time the kittens appeared healthy. They feared the mother would potentially attack people in defense of her kittens if she perceived danger from people getting too close.
Perry Will, area wildlife manager, said Wednesday itap difficult to say what happened with the kittens. “Either nature took its course with the kittens or the female moved them,” he said. Whatever happened, Will said, it is better than wildlife officers intervening.
Wildlife officers set up three cameras in the vicinity of where the kittens were spotted to monitor their activity. Carbondale District Wildlife Manager John Groves said the last time he personally saw some of the kittens was July 12. The last day the cameras spotted them was July 13. The motion-sensor cameras never spotted the mom.
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