# 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.

- **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.

## About

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.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/a862acba-f167-4f34-955e-ec91ba96555c
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/41974
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynx canadensis
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/353727395/medium.jpeg (Matt Muir, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.