Canada Lynx
Lynx canadensis
Their massive, heavily furred paws act like natural snowshoes, spreading their weight to walk effortlessly on top of deep snow drifts.
- Scientific name
- Lynx canadensis
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Carnivora › Felidae › Lynx
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Boreal forests, taiga, and dense coniferous woods with thick undergrowth.
- Diet
- Carnivorous; primarily snowshoe hares, supplemented by rodents, birds, and carrion.
- Range
- Canada, Alaska, Northern United States
- Size
- 80-100 cm in length, 8-14 kg in weight
- Lifespan
- 10-15 years in the wild
- Active
- crepuscular
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, climate change reducing snowpack depth, and trapping.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to humans but defensive if cornered or protecting young. Maintain a safe distance of at least 50 meters. If encountered, do not run; stand tall, make noise, and back away slowly. In the extremely rare event of a bite or scratch, wash the wound thoroughly and seek immediate medical attention.
The Canada lynx ( Lynx canadensis ) or Canadian lynx is a North American mammal of the cat family, Felidae. With the recognised subspecies, it ranges across Canada and into Alaska as well as some parts of the northern United States and extending down the Rocky Mountains to Colorado, where they were reintroduced in the 1990s.
Photo: Matt Muir, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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