U.S. U.S.Fish Fish & Wildlife & Wildlife Service Service Canada Lynx Lynx canadensis

Canada Lynx / USFWS Species Description The Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) is competition from other hare predators, Additionally, from 1999-2006, lynx an elusive forest-dwelling cat of and denning habitat generally captured in Alaska and Canada were northern latitudes. At 30-35 inches consisting of log piles, windfalls, or released into western Colorado; lynx long, weighing 14-31 pounds, and with dense vegetation that provide security from this introduced population have grizzled gray fur, lynx are similar to for kittens. Most lynx habitat in the dispersed into northern New Mexico bobcats (Lynx rufus) in size and Lower 48 States occurs on public and southern Wyoming. appearance. The lynx’s large, well- (National Forest, National Park, and furred paws, long, black ear tufts, and Bureau of Land Management) lands, Diet short, black-tipped tail distinguish it except in the Northeast, where most is Snowshoe hares comprise a majority from the bobcat. With its large paws on private timber lands. of the lynx diet throughout its range. and long hind legs, the lynx is highly Lynx prey opportunistically on other adapted to hunting its primary prey, Distribution small mammals, particularly red the snowshoe hare (Lepus The lynx’s range largely overlaps that squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), americanus), in the deep snow typical of the snowshoe hare, and both species and birds, especially when hare throughout its range. Lynx have been are widespread and relatively common numbers are low. In most of Canada documented to live up to 16 years in in interior Canada and Alaska. Lynx and Alaska, hare populations are the wild. are much rarer in the contiguous U.S., cyclic, with dramatic swings in at the southern edge of their range. numbers over 8-11 year periods. When Habitat Although lynx have been documented Landscapes with high snowshoe hare in 24 states in the contiguous U.S., densities are optimal for lynx survival, many of these records occurred in reproduction, and population unsuitable habitats and were persistence. Lynx and hares are associated with periodic mass strongly associated with moist, cool, dispersals (“irruptions”) of lynx from boreal spruce-fir forests, where lynx Canada after cyclic hare population prefer gently rolling terrain. Hares declines. Only a few places in the need forests with dense understory Lower 48 States have consistently vegetation that provides food and supported lynx populations; these cover, especially during periods of deep include northern Maine, northeastern snow. In the northern contiguous U.S., Minnesota, northwestern Montana and boreal forests transition to more northeastern Idaho, north-central temperate forest types, where lynx Washington, and southwestern populations cannot be sustained, even Montana and northwestern Wyoming. though snowshoe hares may still be Recently, a few lynx have been present. Lynx also need persistent documented in northern New deep, powdery snow, which limits Hampshire and northern Vermont. Canada Lynx /  Steve Torbit

Region 6 Mountain-Prairie Region hare numbers are low, lynx experience Population Threats widespread food shortages and many Lynx likely have never been as Lynx in the contiguous U.S. were die of starvation or abandon home abundant in the Lower 48 States as designated a distinct population ranges to search for adequate prey. In they are in Canada and Alaska because segment (DPS) and were listed as the contiguous U.S., hare population habitat is naturally limited to threatened under the Endangered cycles are less pronounced or absent relatively small areas in the Northeast, Species Act in 2000 because entirely, and hare densities in most Great Lakes, Rocky Mountains, and regulations governing forest places are similar to those in Canada North Cascade Mountains. In most of management activities on Federal and Alaska during the low phase of the Canada and Alaska, lynx populations lands were deemed inadequate, at that cycle. are cyclic and lag 1-2 years behind hare time, to conserve lynx and their cycles. Lynx populations in the habitats. Since listing, most Federal Reproduction contiguous U.S. are generally small land managers throughout the lynx’s Lynx typically mate in March and and isolated from one another (though range, as well as States and several April, and kittens are born from late most are directly connected to private landowners in Maine, have April to mid-June. Litter sizes, ranging populations in Canada), and they formally amended management plans from 1 to 6, and kitten survival appear to function as subpopulations of to conserve lynx and hare habitats. correlate with hare abundance. Litters larger Canadian populations. These Recent modeling suggests that climate of 4 or 5 and high kitten survival are subpopulations may depend on change is likely to impact lynx in the common when hare numbers are high; periodic immigration from populations DPS. Although the timing, magnitude, when they are low, little or no in Canada for demographic and genetic and consequences of climate-related reproduction may occur and few or no enrichment. Because lynx are so rare impacts are difficult to predict, lynx kittens survive to be recruited into the in the contiguous U.S. and difficult to habitats and populations in the population. Lynx hybridization with monitor intensively over time, reliable contiguous U.S. are likely to be smaller bobcats has been documented in estimates are not available for all and more isolated in the future and, Minnesota, Maine and New Brunswick, regions, and the size of the total therefore, more vulnerable to other where male bobcats bred with female Lower-48 population is unknown but threats. lynx to produce fertile offspring with likely small. lynx-like ear tufts, intermediate More Information foot-size, and bobcat-like fur. To learn more about Canada lynx and conservation efforts on behalf of the species, please visit the following sites: The Service’s Canada lynx webpage: http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/ species/mammals/lynx/ & the Service’s ECOS page: http://ecos.fws.gov/.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 6 P.O. Box 25486 Denver Federal Center Denver, Colorado 80225 303 / 382 6468

For State relay service TTY / Voice: 711

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov September 2013

Canada Lynx /  Ted Swem

Region 6 Mountain-Prairie Region