Canada lynx

The lynx, a medium-sized cat, can be distinguished by its large padded feet, long black hairs on the tips of its ears and short stubbed tail.

The lynx is a solitary animal that is active year-round. The lynx inhabits dense boreal forests but can also be found in treeless areas. It depends on mature forests with dead fallen trees for dens. It also requires large territories free of humans.

Distribution

Lynx are found across Canada in the northern boreal softwood forests. They have been red-listed by the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources.

Threats

• Competition with the non-native bobcat since its establishment in the 1950s
• Reliance on the snowshoe hare for its main source of food: when the hare population crashes, so does the lynx population
• Small population size
• Geographic isolation of populations