The Canadian Lynx is a North American member of the cat family. It ranges across Canada and into Alaska as well as some parts of the northern United States. The Canadian Lynx has a dense silvery-brown coat, ruffed face and tufted ears. It is larger than the bobcat and over twice the size of the domestic cat.
What does a Canadian Lynx look like?
The Canadian Lynx looks very similar to its Eurasian cousin, with dense silvery brown fur and blackish markings. The Canadian Lynx is quite small, at an average size of 24 lbs, 36 inches in length and a shoulder height of 24 inches. Males are larger than females. In summer, its coat has a reddish brown color. This lynx has a furry ruff which kind of looks like a beard with two points. It has a short tail with a black tip and long furry tufts on its ears. Its long legs with big furry feet aid the Canadian Lynx in traveling through deep snow.
What do Canadian Lynx eat?
The Canadian Lynx hunts for hares, rodents, birds, and sometimes kills larger animals such as deer. It uses its strong sense of hearing and good eye sight to locate prey. In some areas the snowshoe hare is virtually the only prey of the Canadian Lynx. The size of the Canadian lynx population tends to follow the 10 year-long cycle of snowshoe hare numbers.
Where do Canadian Lynx live?
This cat is found in northern forests across almost all of Canada and Alaska. There are also large populations of this lynx in Montana, Vermont, Idaho and Washington and a resident population exists in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The Canadian lynx is rare in Utah, Minnesota, and New England; reintroduction efforts in Colorado have been ongoing since 1999. The Canadian Lynx is a threatened species in the lower 48 United States.
