The Canada Lynx
Kate Lovsted
Have you ever been camping in the
Eastern or Western states of the U.S., been hiking through the trails of the
Rocky Mountains, or trekked through the dense, snowy forests in Canada, and
spied a large, beautiful cat? Coated in
thick fur, with huge, golden eyes staring at you from its hiding place, under a
fallen tree, or in the thick brush. It
can hear every movement, every heartbeat, and every breath, and its ear flicks
as the tree branches crack and creek as they sway with the gentle wind. To her left, three young kittens are nuzzled
in beside her, with polka-dot blankets of fur covering their small, fragile
bodies, almost as if their coat had been stained with falling brown
snowflakes. To her right, the snow is
crimson red underneath the small, bloodied body of her prey, the snowshoe hare.
The answer to this question is,
most likely, no. Few have been lucky
enough to spy the beautiful sight of
this magnificent animal, the Canada lynx, because the size of their population,
and their range of habitat has been dwindling down to smaller and smaller
portions.
If you would like to learn more
about this magnificent animal, and how to save it, please continue to
read. If you would rather allow the
chance of experiencing a beautiful sighting like the one described above to
become impossible, feel free to keep scrolling.
Description and Ecology
The Canada lynx is a beautiful, medium-sized, long-legged, large-pawed,
and short-tailed cat. The lynx can be
found sparsely within boreal forests in the Western United States, into
subalpine and hardwood forests of the Eastern United States, along the North
Cascade and Rocky Mountain Ranges, in the Western Great Lakes Region, as well
as in Canada, northern Maine, and Alaska in the taiga (“Basic Facts about
Canada Lynx”).
The average male weighs much
more than your average house cat, at around 22 pounds and is 33.5 inches in
length, while the average female weighs around 19 pounds and is 32 inches in
length (“Basic Facts about Canada Lynx”)!
Their fur varies between seasons except for on the tail, which is pitch black-tipped
(see Figure 1), ears, which have long tufts on the ends (see Figure 2), and
chin, which has long, white tufts on both sides (see Figure 3). Their winter coat is thick, gray-brown or
pale brown on the back, and gray-white on the stomach, legs, and feet. Their summer coat is reddish or gray-brown (“Learn
to Identify Big Cats”). Their coats are
known for being so thick and plush, that if you were to see one, you would be
tempted to snuggle with it!
The lynx has
adapted to the deep snow by having long legs and large feet (see Figure 4) (“Basic Facts about Canada
Lynx”). To see a general description and
depiction of the Canada lynx, see Figure 5.
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Figure 1: Shown
above is the pitch black marking on the end of the Canada lynx’s tail. This marking looks like one giant polka
dot! (http://www.bigcats.com/learn-to-identify-the-big-cats)
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Figure 2: Dark brown or black markings are located on long strands
on the tips of the ears. (http://w ww.bigcats.com/learn-to-identify-the-big-cats)
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Figure 3: Long,
bushy, white tufts are located on either side of the chin on the lynx. These white tufts can also have varying
sizes of black stripes on them, but these are not always present. (http://www.defenders.org/canada-lynx/basic-facts)
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Figure 4: The Canada lynxes long legs and large paws can both be seen in this photo. (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/ 438397344953021200/)
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Figure 5: Pictured above is a depiction of the lynx’s
characteristics and physical appearance.
Notice the black tips on the ears and tail, large paws, and large
white patches of fur under the chin. (http://www.biologydiscussion.com/essay/food-chain-in-ecosystem-explained-with-diagrams/1669)
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The Canada lynx can also be
compared to the bobcat due to their very similar features. However, there are a few distinct features
that distinguish the two from one another.
The lynx has larger paws and longer legs, the fur on
the ears and face of the lynx is longer and more distinguishable, and the lynx has a shorter, and more
black tipped tail than the bobcat (see Figure 6 for a more in-depth
comparison). The difference can also be
seen in the areas that each of the species live (see Figure 7) (“How to Tell
the Difference Between a Canada Lynx and a Bobcat”).
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Figure 6: A side-by-side of the bobcat and the lynx. These two animals are easily confused for
one another, but the figure above points out all of the differences! (https://
www.travel4wildlife.com/tell-difference-between-canadian-lynx-bobcat/)
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Figure 7: The bobcat and the lynx have
very little overlap of habitats, which makes location another way to
distinguish the two species.
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The lynx makes its dens for
sleeping and birth of their young under fallen trees (Figure 8), tree stumps,
rock ledges (Figure 9), or within thick bushes (Figure 10) (“Animal Facts:
Canada Lynx”).
Due to their territorial
behavior, male lynxes live alone, while female lynxes live in dens with their
baby kittens (“Animal Facts: Canada Lynx”).
The only interactions between the male and female cats are during their
breeding season in the Winter (that is the most romantic season of them all,
right?) (“Animal Facts: Canada Lynx”).
All
lynxes hunt during the night, which they have adapted to by having large eyes
and remarkable hearing, and since they are not fast runners, they have learned
to be stealthy by bounding towards and pouncing on their prey (see Figure 11)
(“Animal Facts: Canada Lynx”).
The lynx
primarily feeds on snowshoe hares (Figure 12), but will also prey on small
mammals, birds, or large animals such as caribou (Figure 13). The lynx’s predators include cougars, wolves,
coyotes, and their primary predator, the human, who will hunt them for their
beautiful, thick fur (Figures 14 and 15) (“Basic Facts about Canada Lynx”).
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Figure 8: The Canada lynx finding shelter underneath a
fallen three that has been blanketed by snow. (https:/ /www.pinterest.com/rickycrabbit/canadian-lynx/).
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Figure 9: A mother lynx and her small kitten finding
shelter within rocky stone ledge. (http://www.zooborns.
com/zooborns/2012/08/page/2/).
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Figure 10: A lynx spies the photographer through the thick
brush of its den. (http: //www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/wild-canadian-lynx-felis-lynx-standing-high-res-stock-photography/164845670).
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Figure 11: How the Canada lynx hunts
its prey. First, the lynx spots its
prey and makes it its target, then the lynx hunches over to hide from the
hare. Lastly, the lynx lunges forward
and catches the hare in its grasp! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=O8_AX1O1jYY)
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Figure 12: The snowshoe are is a small-sized, white-fur
hare. (https://prezi.com/dambopx25gij/snow-shoe-hares/).
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Figure 13: The caribou, though much larger in size than
the lynx, can also become a yummy snack for the large cat! (http://blog.nwf.org/2014/12/10-festive-facts-about-reindeer/).
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Figure 14: A hunter shows off his Canada lynx in the winter. (http://biddin g.biggame.org/7-day-Canadian-lynx-hunt-for-one-hunter-in-Southern-British-Columbia_i14689593).
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Figure 15: Pieces of fur from the Canada lynx are usually made into stylish
winter jackets, but have also been used to create handbags, gloves, and even
high end socks. (https://w ww.pinterest.com/pin/346425396317999020/
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Geographic and Population Changes
Habitat destruction has been a primary problem for the Canada lynx. The Canada lynx’s geographic range has
retracted from almost all of it’s are in the United States, which leaves most
of its habitat in Canada (see Figure 16) (“Threats to Lynx”).
Areas in the United states that have been
degraded and fragmented have been categorized into core areas, provisional core
areas, secondary areas, and peripheral areas (see
Figure 17) (“RECOVERY OUTLINE: Contiguous
United States Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx”).
The These threats to the lynx’s habitat have
also lessened the population of the species, leaving with a known population of
70 organisms globally (“Threats to Lynx”).
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Figure 16: The current range of the Canada lynx compared to the previos range
of the lynx. The difference is
staggering, with the majority of Canada lynxes living in Canada rather than
the United States. (http://projectlynxbe.weebly.com/lynx-conservation.html).
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Figure 17: Recovery areas of the Canada lynx. Core areas are labeled with numbers, and it
is obvious that the habitat of the Canada lynx is dwindling due to the small
number of these core areas. (http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/final%20draft%
20Lynx%20Recovery%20Outline%209-05.pdf).
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Listing Date and Type of Listing
The Canada
Lynx has been listed as threatened wherever they are found since March 24, 2000
(“RECOVERY OUTLINE: Contiguous United
States Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx”). This means that the Canada lynx is not yet
endangered, but is likely to become endangered in any part of its range if not action is taken (see
Figure 18 for more details)!
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Figure 18: The different classifications of animals as they lead towards extinction. We must take
precautions in able to eliminate the changes of this beautiful species
becoming endangered! (http://animals.ab
out.com/od/e/g/endangeredspeci.htm).
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Cause of Listing and Main Threats to Continued Existence
The population change of the Canada lynx has decreased immensely due to
the degradation of their habitat and dwindling number of their primary food
source, the snowshoe hare (see Figure 19) (“Canada Lynx Facts”).
The large amounts of high-elevation fires (see
Figure 20) that have occurred within the past decade have been a threat to the
species’ survival, despite the benefits that individual fires have for the
lynx, such as promoting growing tree stands that support their main prey (“Canada
Lynx Threats”). As well, efforts to
suppress these large fires, as well as forest management, have affected the
snowshoe hare population (“Canada Lynx Threats”). As shown in Figure 21, the population of
snowshoe hare and Canada lynx are directly correlated.
Vehicle strikes and bycatch (see Figure 22) are also smaller sources of the population decline of the Canada lynx (“Canada Lynx Facts”).
Vehicle strikes and bycatch (see Figure 22) are also smaller sources of the population decline of the Canada lynx (“Canada Lynx Facts”).
Along with these
species-specific reasons for listing, global warming has degraded, destructed,
and fragmented much of the lynx’s habitat due to the melting of snow and
changes in environment.
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Figure 19: The snowshoe are dashes away as the Canada lynx bounds
on its long legs to catch its next meal.
(http://coyotes-wolves-cougars.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-canadian-lynx-has-western.html).
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Figure 21: The correlation between the snowshoe hare population and the Canada lynx population. (
http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-108152/The-Canada-snowshoe-hare-population-and-lynx-population-show-regular?)
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Figure 22: A graphic photo of a terrified Canada lynx stuck in a metal trap within
the thick forest. This trap was not meant for the lynx, and the terror in the eyes of
this animal is heartbreaking. (http://www.defenders.org/canada-lynx/threats).
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Figure 20:
Wildfires that are located high up in the mountains are devastating to the
population of the snowshoe hare. (http://krqe.com/2016/03/28/wildfire-prompts-school-evacuations-in-ruidoso/).
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The building of roads and other housing complexes are also causes of
habitat fragmentation for this species (“Threats to Lynx”). Roads can lead to the species being hit by
cars, as well as limiting their ability to travel throughout their habitat
(Figure 23). Housing complexes can cause
complications in the lynx’s everyday life, while also fragmenting their habitat
(Figure 24).
Sites that have been
destroyed for the use of oil mining (Figure 25), logging, mining, and other commercial
uses are also a major cause of habitat degradation and species loss (“Threats
to Lynx”).
Another unexpected reason for
the listing of the Canada Lynx is the persistence of human activity. With winter recreation such as skiing,
snowboarding, snow-tubing, and sledding, boundaries and fences are pitched, which
can become a difficult boundary for the Canada lynx to get around (Figure 26) (“Threats
to Lynx”).
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Figure
23: A Canda lynx making its way across what could be a busy
highway. This is one example of a lynx
putting itself in danger in able to simply live its life. This danger is caused by nothing more than
human activity. (http://coyotes-wolves-cougars.blogspot.com/2014
/01/maine-is-one-confirmed-northeas tern.html).
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Figure 24: A brave Canada lynx stepped into a house that was built on what used to be its habitat. Watch out, videotaper! The Canada lynx is known to be very aggressive! (https:/ /www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL6Ms1IWj2g).
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Figure 25: Oil drilling
plants in Alaska are just one example of areas that used to be inhabited by numbers lynxes, but are now places of rare sightings. (http://www.mining.com/canada-to-lose-695-coal-mining-jobs-in-same-province-bringing-chinese-workers-62517/)
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Figure 26: The boundary above is an example of fencing
that could have been put up for sledders, skiers, or snow-tubers. (Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.
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Description of Recovery Plan
At the beginning of the Recovery Plan, the word “core area” is defined in
able to help individuals understand the area that is being mentioned. A core area is defined as an area that has a
strong, long-term evidence of a persistent lynx population.
Within the Recovery Plan for the Canada lynx, there are 4 objectives. These objectives are as follows: 1. maintain
a habitat that can support a long-term population of the Canada
lynx, 2. guarantee that these areas allow immigration and emigration
between populations, 3. guarantee that the areas
surrounding the core areas of the Canada lynx remain available for the lynx to
inhabit, and 4. address and prevent threats of the Canada lynx.
Following the
objectives of the Recovery Plan are the seven main sections, which are as
follows:
1.
Create
management "contracts" in core areas of the lynx’s habitat. These promises will ensure quality
that the lynx’s habitat will be maintained, which will enable the lynx to live over
the next 100 years.
2.
Monitor
changes in the habitat of the lynx, including changes in the structure of the
habitat, as well as taking notice of habitat destruction.
3.
Monitor the number of lynxes in core areas at least once every
10 years in able to track the distribution and population density of the lynx.
4. Track movement of the lynx between their core habitat areas.
5.
Make sure that habitat surrounding the core areas of the lynx are maintained and
available for the lynx to live in.
This will include conducting surveys to determine whether or not these
areas are suitable to maintain a lynx population.
6.
Identify
factors that limit the population and habitat of the lynx in the United
States. Gather information regarding the requirements, distribution, and
population size trends for each of the core areas, as well as identify the
risks posed by forest management and human-related mortality (roads, trapping,
hunting, etc.) and address these issues. Study the potential competitors and predators,
and take action as it becomes necessary.
Study the risk that hybridizing of the lynx and the bobcat potentially
poses, and address as necessary. Monitor
climate change and the effects it has on the habitat of the lynx, and modify
management strategies if necessary.
7.
Develop
a plan that is ready to implement after the lynx is delisted to warrant that
the Canada lynx’s survival and protection is ensured.
(“RECOVERY OUTLINE: Contiguous United States Distinct
Population Segment of the Canada
Lynx”)
What Can You Do?
There are several
ways that YOU can help the Canada lynx.
Through different organizations, you can donate money to help support
the lynx. Click the link below to help contribute to organizations who put
extensive time and effort into helping these beautiful animals.
Donate to, or become a member at Defenders of Wildlife
Donate to the National Wildlife Federation
You can also
contribute to the conservation of the Canada lynx by “adopting” a lynx. By adopting a lynx through the National
Wildlife Federation, you will be making a symbolic donation that will go
towards anywhere needed regarding conservation of the lynx.
Adopt a Canada Lynx
If you are looking
to make a difference in your daily life rather than simply making a donation,
you can help reduce climate change through simple, everyday routines.
Help reduce global warming to reduce habitat degradation and destruction
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References
Https://DefendersofWildlife/.
"Basic Facts About Canada Lynx." Defenders of Wildlife. N.p.,
19
Sept.
2016. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.
Https://DefendersofWildlife/.
"Threats to Lynx." Defenders of Wildlife. N.p., 19 Sept. 2016.
Web.
28 Nov. 2016.
"Learn to Identify the Big
Cats." Learn to Identify the Big Cats. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov.
2016.
"RECOVERY OUTLINE:
Contiguous United States Distinct Population Segment of the Canada
Lynx."
(n.d.): n. pag. Web.
@cangeo. "Animal Facts:
Canada Lynx." Canadian Geographic. N.p., 13 June 2016. Web. 28
Nov.
2016.
@Travel4Wildlife. "How to
Tell the Difference Between a Bobcat and a Canada Lynx - Travel For
Wildlife."
Travel For Wildlife. N.p., 25 Sept. 2016. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.
Julian Lohser: Great information about the animal! The amount of figures is great, I really understood the range of the animal, and the specific things humans do that impact their habitat. However, I was left wondering why it was negative that their habitat was reduced to Canada, when they are indeed called the Canada lynx. Also, glad to know the difference between the Canada lynx and the bobcat.
ReplyDelete