One of the four members of the lynx genus, the
Canadian Lynx is an inhabitant mainly of Canada and Alaska, with some
individuals recorded in certain parts of northern United States. A
resident largely of snowy mountainous areas, it is adapted physically
to survive in cold weathers. Though smaller than the Eurasian Lynx, the
Canadian Lynx is a formidable predator with a size twice as big as the
domestic cat. Males are larger, with an average weight of twenty five
pounds and length nearing three feet.
A beautiful cat, the coat
of the Canadian Lynx is thick and silvery brown with darkish markings
that are often hard to spot in the dense fur. Neck is covered with a
thick ruff of hair and ears, as with other lynx species, are tipped by
long hair tufts. Tail is short like that of the Bobcat, though it is
completely black - unlike that of the Bobcat whose tail is black on the
upper and white on the lower surface. Hind legs are longer and paws are
broad, aiding the cat to walk on snow.
A secretive and largely
solitary feline, the Canadian Lynx is a diurnal hunter. A specialized
predator in large parts of its range - the cat preys mostly on the
snowshoe hare. In fact its population corresponds directly to the rise
and fall of the hare population in its range. Other mid-sized animals
are also taken including birds, small ungulates and rodents and
scavenging is often observed in winter on left over deer and caribou
carcasses.
Average lifespan of this cat is around fifteen years.
After a gestation period of two months, mother gives birth to up to
eight kittens - the number correlating to the abundance of prey animals
at that point in time. The young stay with the mother until they can
fend for themselves. Sexual maturity is reached at nearly two years.
The
lynx is easily trapped and mainly hunted for its fur. It also suffers
indirectly at the hand of hunters since its main prey animal - the
rabbit - is widely killed for sport. Though not critically endangered
yet, the loss of prey and habitat has led to the decline of the
beautiful cat in many parts of its former range.
