Canadian Lynx is a wild cat of North America. It resides in snowy mountainous areas. 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.
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.
