Canada Lynx

Lynx Canadensis

Population, Conservation Status, Threats:

While populations in the US, especially Colorado, are small, overall the Canada lynx is considered least concern by the IUCN. It is abundant in Alaska and Canada, but rare in the lower 48 states. As an animal with very specific habitat and prey needs, it is threatened by climate change and loss of habitat - specifically, early seral stage conifer forests full of snowshoe hare.

Physical Description:

Often mistaken for a bobcat, lynx can be distinguished by their longer ear tufts, shorter tail, and huge furry paws. These paws act like snowshoes and allow them to hunt in terrain that other carnivores have trouble traversing.

Canada lynx range from wildcatconservation.org. Reintroduced range (including Colorado) is in purple. While Canada lynx are found across Canada and Alaska, populations in the lower parts of the 48 states are small and often fragmented.

Habitat:

Canada lynx prefer to live in coniferous forests with deep snow and ample shelter. Importantly, their habitat must sustain a large enough population of their primary prey, snowshoe hare, for them to survive.

Behavior:

Canada lynx are solitary predators, using their large paws to their advantage to hunt hare in deep snow. Often, their ranges - which are between 10 and 20 square miles - will fluctuate and center on snowshoe hare populations.

Diet:

While they will take other prey when snowshoe hare are not available, Canada lynx depend heavily on snowshoe hare as their primary prey. The connection between Canada lynx and snowshoe hare is so close that lynx and hare populations fluctuate almost perfectly in sync with one another.

Reproduction:

Mating occurs in early spring, followed by an 8-10 week gestation. Females typically produce 2-4 offspring per litter. The young remain with the mother until the next mating season, whereupon they will separate to find their own territory.

Associated Species:

Snowshoe hares are the primary prey of Canada lynx, and the overall population density of the two species is closely linked. However, when snowshoe hares are seasonally unavailable, Canada lynx may take grouse or squirrels as prey.

Illustration by Willow Sedam

Sources: https://www.fws.gov/species/canada-lynx-lynx-canadensis, https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Canada-Lynx, https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fish-wildlife/wildlife/species-information/mammals/canada-lynx.html, https://conservationnw.org/our-work/wildlife/canada-lynx/, https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/lynx-canadensis

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