Canadian Lynx

		Canadian Lynx
		He is a wild animal


Origin			Canada and Alaska
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

The possession of this animal is not authorized Royal Decree establishing the list of mammals not kept for production purposes that may be kept (M.B. 24.08.2009)

The Canadian Lynx, also known as the Gray Lynx, the Polar Lynx, the Blue Lynx or the Wolf-hawk, is a species of carnivorous mammal in the felidae family of the Lynx genus. Adapted to cold climates, its range essentially encompasses Canada and Alaska (USA), as well as the northeastern United States and part of the Rocky Mountains.

The long, thick fur is gray and yellowish-brown, with occasional dark patches. The tail is short with a dark tip. The hind legs are long, and the feet are covered with dense fur and can measure 10 cm. These "snowshoes" prevent it from sinking into deep snow. Its ears are topped by a fine brush of black hair, and it usually has a floating collar of fur around its neck.

Long legs and thick fur make this lynx appear much larger than it is. Males weigh around 10 kg, while females are slightly smaller: around 8.5 kg. These lynxes can measure 80 to 100 cm in length (head and back), with a tail of 5 to 13 cm, and 48 to 56 cm in height at the withers.

The Canada Lynx can be confused with the Bobcat, which shares part of its range. However, the Red Lynx has shorter legs and smaller feet, with no hair on the pads. The tuft of hair above its ears is also much smaller than that of the Canada Lynx; its tail, on the other hand, is longer and has a light-colored tip, whereas that of the Canada Lynx is completely black at the tip.

This species depends on its prey, particularly the American hare, whose population dynamics are highly cyclical.

In Canada, the lynx is not considered endangered by COSEWIC, given its wide dispersion across the North American continent. However, its situation in the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia seems more worrying. The IUCN recognizes that its populations are at risk, classifying the New Brunswick population as endangered and the Nova Scotia population as of special concern.

In the United States, it is classified as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. This means that the species is or will be threatened with extinction. Its habitat is also partially protected by the government.