Canada Lynx

Canada Lynx. Hare specialist , Lynx canadensis. , A Canada lynx is a medium-sized cat that is well-adapted for life in the northern forests. Compared to the more common bobcat, a lynx is larger and has long black ear tufts, a black-tipped tail, and a flared facial ruff. With long legs and huge furry feet that act like snowshoes, a lynx can move tirelessly across deep snow and while hunting its preferred prey, snowshoe hares. Lynx numbers rise and fall following the cyclic highs and lows of the snowshoe hare population. Ideal lynx habitat is a mixture of forest types. Downed logs and woody debris of old forests are needed for denning, escape, and protection from severe weather. Lynx hunt in young forests that provide habitat for their prey. Corridors of forest, with enough cover, are needed for the shy lynx to travel safely within its range., Canada lynx are found in the high elevations and mountainous regions of northern United States and Canada. Although their numbers are stable in Alaska and Canada, habitat destruction has led to a decline in the lynx population in the contiguous United States. In 2000, the Canada Lynx was listed as a threatened species in the lower 48 states.