Linces Canadiense

Canada Lynx
Lynx canadensis The lynx is an animal that truly represents the wilderness of Canada. Sometimes called the “shadow of the forest,” lynx are secretive, elusive animals rarely observed by people. The lynx is one of three wild felids native to Canada, along with the cougar and the bobcat.

Characteristics Lynx are medium sized felids with an average adult length of 74-107 cm (30-43inches), and an average weight of 16 kg (35 pounds). This species is recognized by its grey to light brown fur colour, a short black-tipped tail, long black ear tufts, and large well-furred feet. Its close relative, the bobcat is the only other animal that can be easily confused with the lynx. Bobcats however are generally slightly smaller, have less defined ear tufts and have reddish-brown fur withmore visible spots.

Life Cycle Lynx are solitary animals and only associate with the opposite sex during mating, which occurs in late winter (January to March). After a gestation period of 60-63 days, a litter of one to six kittens is produced, usually between April and early June. Kittens’ eyes first open at around eight to ten days old. The kittens are born with streaked and spotted fur.They remain with the female only through their first winter. The young begin foraying with their mother after two months and are weaned at one year. Shortly after they are no longer dependent on mother’s milk, the sub-adult lynx will disperse and find their own ranges. Lynx will establish and maintain a home range by creating scents posts by urinating on trees, deadfalls, and rocks. Male lynxmaintain large ranges that often encompass those of several females. In the wild, the average life span for the lynx is 15 years.

Habitat Lynx are found throughout Canada, from Newfoundland to British Columbia and from the border to the far north. They are found in the area covered by the boreal forest and are usually absent from coastal areas. In the United States, lynx inhabit Alaska and thenorthern portions of Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and Colorado. However, their numbers have diminished in these lower states.

The lynx’s preferred habitat is deep coniferous forests interspersed with rocky areas, bogs, swamps, and thickets. This habitat provides them with prey, den sites, cover, and protection from severe weather as much of their range may be snow-covered for severalmonths of the year.

Close cousins of the Canada lynx include the Eurasian lynx, which lives in Turkestan, central Asia, and Scandinavia, and the Iberian lynx, which inhabits the Mediterranean region in suitable habitats in Spain and Portugal.

Behaviour The lynx’s diet is varied: they will prey on rodents such as mice and voles, several bird species, and even the young of deer, caribou,mountain goat, and bighorn sheep. However, far and away the lynx’s most important prey is the snowshoe hare. The lynx is so dependent on the hare that population levels of these two species rise and fall predictably approximately every ten years. As snowshoe hare numbers are reduced so too are lynx populations. With fewer lynx, hare numbers rebound, then once again with increased prey, the lynxpopulation will rise. Understanding this predator–prey relationship is very important because it shows that the predator is never responsible for the ultimate endangerment of the prey. The snowshoe hare actually relies on the lynx to keep its population stable and healthy.

Lynx are not especially fast runners, so instead they prefer to use stealth to ambush their prey. They often climb trees and waitfor prey to pass below and then pounce on them from low branches. The lynx’s elongated ear tufts act like antennae to enhance their excellent sense of hearing.

Lynx do not hibernate. They are active throughout the winter and have several adaptations to cope with the snow and cold. The lynx’s large well-furred feet act like snowshoes when moving across deep snow. In fact, its paw print is so...