Canadian Lynx

(Lynx canadensis)

The Canada lynx has a short body, small tail and long legs. In winter, it sports a fur coat that is thick, long and grey. In summer, its coat is short, thin and light brown. Canada lynx look like they have wide faces, thanks to long patches of fur that grow out from their cheeks. They are most easily recognized by the black tips of their bobbed (short) tails and the long tufts on their triangle-shaped ears. The Canada lynx closely resembles its southern forest-dwelling relative, the bobcat, but the truth is in the tail. Lynx tails are completely black-tipped, while bobcat tails have a white ring below the black tip. Canada lynx also have large, thick-furred paws that act like snowshoes, which help them hunt during winter.

Native to North America, the Canadian lynx inhabits a range from the Arctic tree line, southwards through a good part of Alaska and Canada, as well as the north of the adjoining United States. They make their dens underneath fallen trees, tree stumps, rock ledges or thick bushes.

Snowshoe hares are the main source of food for Canada lynx. A hungry lynx might eat a whole hare for one meal, while others will eat some and hide the rest for later. When hares cannot be found, the lynx will prey on small mammals, birds and sometimes even large animals like caribou.

Information collected from https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/animal-facts-canada-lynx/ and https://animalia.bio/canadian-lynx