The Canada lynx is a study in specialisation. Long hind legs, a short body and paws that can spread wider than a human hand let it travel over deep powder snow that would exhaust competing predators.
Its ecology is tied to a single prey animal. Snowshoe hares make up the great majority of the diet, and lynx numbers follow the hare's roughly ten-year boom-and-bust cycle with a lag of one to two years.
Size and measurements
| Head-body length | 2 ft 6 in – 3 ft 6 in (76–107 cm) |
|---|---|
| Tail length | 2 in – 5 in (5–13 cm) |
| Shoulder height | 19 in – 22 in (48–56 cm) |
| Body weight | 11–37 lb (5–17 kg) — Most adults weigh 8–11 kg; males average about a quarter heavier than females. |
| Top recorded speed | Not reliably measured — Not reliably measured; the species relies on ambush in deep snow rather than speed. |
| Lifespan in the wild | 10–14 years |
| Lifespan under human care | 16–20 years |
Habitat and range
Dense spruce and fir forest with thick understorey that supports hares, plus deep, persistent winter snow that gives the lynx its competitive advantage.
Across Canada and Alaska, extending south into the northern Rockies, the Great Lakes states, northern New England and Washington State.
Diet and hunting
Snowshoe hare dominates and can exceed three-quarters of the diet; red squirrels, grouse, voles and carrion fill the gap during hare lows.
Hunting strategy — Ambush along hare runways. The lynx waits beside well-used trails in dense cover, or makes a short stalk followed by a rush of a few bounds.
Behaviour and activity
Solitary. Adults maintain separate ranges that expand dramatically when hare numbers crash, when animals may disperse hundreds of miles.
Nocturnal and crepuscular. Hunting concentrates at night and around dusk, matching the activity of snowshoe hares.
Climbing and swimming
Climbing — Strong. Climbs readily to rest and to escape larger carnivores, though it hunts on the ground.
Swimming — Capable. Swims across lakes and rivers during dispersal.
Conservation status
The Canada Lynx is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with a population trend recorded as stable in the assessment published in 2016.
Secure across the boreal core of its range. Southern populations in the contiguous United States are far more fragile and are federally protected there.
Documented threats
- Loss of boreal forest connectivity
- Shorter and shallower snow seasons
- Competition from bobcats moving north
- Incidental trapping
- Road development
Look up the current Red List assessment for Lynx canadensis
Notable traits
- Paw loading — body weight divided by foot area — is among the lowest of any cat, which is what allows travel on soft snow.
- The population cycle of lynx and snowshoe hare is one of the classic examples of predator-prey dynamics in ecology.
- Ear tufts are thought to improve hearing sensitivity as well as serving as visual signals.
Sources for this profile
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Global assessment categories, population trends and documented threats.
- IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group Species accounts, distribution notes and Cat News reporting for every wild felid.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal listing status and recovery planning for cats occurring in the United States.
- U.S. National Park Service Long-running monitoring of North American carnivores inside protected areas.
- Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Reviewed species accounts with morphometric ranges and reproductive data.