Canadian lynx

Lynx canadensis (Canada Lynx)

Though it’s names suggests otherwise, the Canada Lynx’s historic range extended into the northern contiguous united states and stretched from coast to coast, reaching as far south as the Colorado Rockies. The Lynx is found in northern subalpine and boreal forests mainly in Canada and Alaska. Western Okanogan County is the only area in the state that supports a resident lynx population with an estimated population with less than 100 individuals. The Lynx is listed as Threatened in Washington state and under the federal Endangered Species ACT.

The Lynx is a specialized hunter praying almost exclusively on Snowshoe hare. It tends to be nocturnal and can cover 5 miles every day to get prey. Lynx populations are directly tied to population cycles of snowshoe hare.


Photo by Michael Zahra

They have evolved to features that provide advantages in deep snow habitats. With large saucer like paws, long legs, and dense long furry coat, the Lynx is uniquely suited to hunting on top of a large snow pack which gives it an edge against its competitors.

1.6 inches long tuffs of black hair grow from the tips of their ears. In winter the hair on their lower cheeks grows long and appears to form a ruffle covering the throat. The coat is short and reddish brown to greyish in summer, but becomes longer and greyer in winter. Their short tails are marked with dark rings and terminate in a fully black tip. Canada lynx have been reported to live up to fourteen years in captivity although the lifespan is probably much shorter in the wild.


Photo by Michael Zahra

The Canada lynx is trapped for its fur, and has declined in many areas due to habitat loss. a variety of factors contribute to its habitat reduction, particularly land use changes with human expansion, forest fires, over exploitation, and a warming climate. The lynx is particularly vulnerable to climate change as the deep snow cover that lynx depend on may be significantly reduced, removing their competitive advantage.

In 1999 the Colorado Division of Wildlife began a program reintroducing a wild lynx population into the San Juan Mountains of Colorado where it had been extinct since 1970. As of 2010 the population had expanded, confirming the possibility of successful reintroduction. Unfortunately, there is no sign that Washington's Canada Lynx population has improved since it was listed for protection.

I honestly chose the Canada Lynx because of it's unique look. I don't see the species receiving a lot of attention in the media, possibly because of it's size. I knew nothing about it to begin with and despite it's small stature, I still find it to be pretty freaking majestic.

Works Cited
http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/00394/
http://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/SOC-LynxResearch.aspx
https://www.fws.gov/northeast/climatechange/stories/lynx.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_lynx