canada lynx predators

[11][12] A study in 2019 estimated the Newfoundland lynx to have diverged from the mainland lynx around 20,000 to 33,000 years ago following the last glaciation. [23] The fur is generally shorter in summer than in winter. Canada lynx look similar to bobcats, but there are some distinguishing features: bobcats have shorter tufts on their ears, the tip of their tail is black on top and white underneath, and bobcats have shorter legs and smaller feet than lynx. Other methods include radio telemetry and snow tracking. [39] Female home ranges contract in size when the females have offspring to take care of and expand to their original size at the time of weaning. These food sources often do not meet the lynx's nutritional needs. The population cycles of these two species are closely linked. Around this same time people were prejudiced against predators and a state-financed bounty encouraged the killing of lynx for money. Economic Importance for Humans: Positive. [13], According to a 2006 phylogenetic study, the ancestor of five extant felid lineages—Lynx, Leopardus, Puma, Felis and Prionailurus plus Otocolobus—arrived in North America after crossing the Bering Strait 8.5 to 8 million years ago (mya). Mating takes place once a year and lasts one month ranging from March to May, depending on the weather. Average weight: Approximately eight kilograms to 14 kilograms, Average length: Approximately 90 centimetres, Average lifespan: Up to 15 years in the wild. [65][66] A study in 2019 identified a gammaherpesvirus species in the Canada lynx for the first time. The lynx may eat its kill immediately or cache it in snow or leaves to eat it over the next few days. Subsequently, the numbers have increased to 15,387 during 2000–2006. With big eyes and superior hearing, Canada lynx are excellent night hunters. It also has four carnassial teeth that cut the meat into small pieces. The deciduous dentition is 3.1.23.1.2 (24 teeth), as the young do not have molars. The lack of appreciable subspecific distinctions led the researchers to doubt the validity of the Newfoundland lynx as a separate subspecies. [15][21], Canadian lynxes hunt around twilight or at night, the time when snowshoe hares tend to be active. Lynx prey upon mice, voles, squirrels, grouse, ptarmigan and carrion when hares are scarce. [15][16] The populations of the Eurasian lynx that reached North America 2.6 mya are believed to have initially settled in the southern half of the continent, as the northern part was covered by glaciers. Canada lynx live in forested areas and make their dens underneath fallen trees, tree stumps, rock ledges or thick bushes. [21] Snowshoe hare populations in Alaska and central Canada undergo cyclic rises and falls—at times the population densities can fall from as high as 2,300/km2 (6,000/sq mi) to as low as 12/km2 (31/sq mi). [6][26][30] The bobcat is generally smaller than the Canada lynx, but in areas where they are sympatric the bobcat tends to be larger and may still be confused with the Canada lynx. The Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) is a medium-sized North American wildcat that ranges across Alaska, Canada and many of the contiguous United States. [49][77] Even without regulation, the lynx-hare cycles and the distribution of the lynx have remained unaffected over the last century. The Canada lynx is Alaska’s only wild cat species. Aside from habitat loss, one of the main factors imperiling the medium-sized wild cat was a decline in … Humans are the main predator of the lynx… Lynxes rarely cached their kills, unlike coyotes, and this may have led to incomplete consumption of some kills. [15][21][62], The Canada lynx is known to host several parasites including Cylicospirura felineus, Taenia species, Toxocara cati, Toxascaris leonina and Troglostrongylus wilsoni. [44] They typically move within areas where prey availability and the features of the snow (such as the hardness and the extent to which their paws sink into the snow) are more or less similar; individuals may disperse over smaller areas in areas of soft snow. Close facial view. When hares cannot be found, the lynx will prey on small mammals, birds and sometimes even large animals like caribou. In A. P. Curlee, A. Gillesberg and D. Casey, ed., Greater Yellowstone predators: Ecology and conservation in a changing landscape, 57–62. [30][58], After a gestation of two to three months, a litter of one to eight kittens is born. [24] The backs of the ears are brown with a silvery-grey spot at the centre. [53] Lynx populations have been found to vary periodically three- to seventeen-fold. Such areas are believed to provide lynx with a seasonal competitive advantage over other terrestrial hare predators like bobcats and coyotes (Canis latrans). They are territorial animals, and males live alone most of the time. Lynx live in dense forests across northern Canada, in northern Minnesota and Maine, and in mountainous areas of northwestern United States. [21] They rely on their vision and sense of hearing to locate prey. Some lynx will sit still for hours to just to snatch a bite! As temperatures rise with global warming, the snowpack and forests that lynx rely on are predicted to move upward in altitude and northward in latitude. The Canada lynx was first described by Robert Kerr in 1792. Known for their secretive natures, lynx are ambush predators that focus on snowshoe hare, squirrels, and ptarmigan. [21] The caracal resembles the lynxes in having similar tufts on the ears. [15][21][37] Studies suggest success in hunting hares depends heavily on the distance between the lynx and the hare when the lynx begins chasing it and their relative speeds, which in turn depends on the hunting prowess of the lynx, the alertness of the hare and the vegetation cover among other factors. Other food items may include red squirrels, ruffed grouse, voles, fishers, foxes, and small deer and caribou. Therefore, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) classifies the Canada lynx as Least Concern. Individuals, particularly of the same sex, tend to avoid each other, forming "intrasexual" territories. To catch prey, the lynx will wait silently near a trail for movement. [67] A study identified plague as a major cause of mortality in reintroduced populations in Colorado. Average illegal trade in fur and live animals appears to be negligible on the national scale. The Canada lynx is especially vulnerable to climate change. [15][22], The claws are sharp and fully retractable. Meagher. Canada lynx look like they have wide faces, thanks to long patches of fur that grow like beards along their cheeks. Nevertheless, activity may be observed during daytime. [6] The dental formula is 3.1.2.13.1.2.1. Northwest Science 80(3):199–206. In order to maintain a competitive advantage over other predators, this species depends on high elevation habitat with cold, snowy winters. [37], Canada lynxes establish home ranges that vary widely in size, depending upon the method of measurement. The lynx is a good swimmer and an agile climber. The two common methods are examining the tracks of the lynx in snow (snow-tracking) and radio telemetry; snow-tracking generally gives smaller sizes for home ranges. Females have only a single estrus cycle; estrus lasts three to five days in captivity. The initial introduction was in the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado, but self-sustaining populations were established throughout the south-central Colorado Rockies as far north as Summit County. It prefers to lie in wait for prey, then pounce. [41] In a study in the southern Northwest Territories, ranges of individuals of opposite sexes were found to overlap extensively, while the ranges of individuals of the same sex hardly coincided. Canada lynxes have been reported to live sixteen years in the wild, though most do not survive ten; in captivity they may make it to twenty-seven. As predators, Canadian lynx are important in regulating the populations of their prey. Hybridization between closely related species might significantly delimit the geographic range of the species, especially if they are endangered as reproductive success in females would be reduced by the birth of sterile offspring; on the other hand, fertile hybrids can compete and breed further with the parent species, potentially reducing the numbers of the parent species. The lynx is listed as Endangered in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. [37] A study in Alaska found that lynxes played a role in the decrease in populations of red fox, caribou and Dall's sheep when hares were very low in number. [78], In eastern Canada the lynx is threatened by competition with the eastern coyote, whose numbers in the region have risen in the last few decades. In the United States in the south, the main threats are habitat fragmentation and change, accidents, and increased competition against other predators. When hares are scarce lynxes tend to move to areas with more hares and tend not to produce litters, and as the numbers of the hare increase, so do the populations of the lynx. These lynxes are primarily solit… International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T12518A101138963.en, "Report on the birds and mammals collected by the McIlhenny Expedition to Pt. [27] Young ungulates are given a throat bite to suffocate them to death. Coyotes, with a success rate of 36.9%, emerged as more successful hunters than lynxes that succeeded in 28.7% of their hunts; however, this may have resulted from the greater number of adult coyotes in the studied population. Click here to learn more. [56], The mating season is roughly a month long, from March to early April. Kittens leave the den after about five weeks and begin hunting at between seven and nine months of age. [54] A study involving statistical modelling of the interspecific relations of the snowshoe hare, the plant species it feeds on and its predators (including the Canada lynx) suggested that while the demographics of the lynx depend primarily on the hare, the hare's dynamics depend on both its diet and its predators, of which the Canada lynx is just one. Luckily, lynx can use different adaptations, like their whiskers, to detect incoming predators while they are hunting. Standing between 48 to 56 centimeters tall at the shoulder, spanning 76 to 110 centimeters in length, and weighing in at 8 to 11 kilograms, it’s one of the largest cats to range through the Canadian North and parts of the United States of America. Studies based on snow-tracking have estimated home range sizes of 11.1–49.5 km2 (4.3–19.1 sq mi), while those based on radio telemetry have given the area between 8 and 783 km2 (3.1 and 302.3 sq mi). Canada lynx are especially vulnerable to global warming. These hares comprise 35–97% of their diet; the proportion varies by the season and the abundance of hares. It uses its sight and hearing mainly for hunting, focusing less on its sense of smell. [81] In 2005, the USFWS demarcated six major areas for revival where lynx reproduction had been reported in the past two decades: northern Maine and New Hampshire, northeastern Minnesota, northwestern Montana and northeastern Idaho, the Kettle River Range and the "Wedge area" between the Kettle and Columbia rivers of Washington, the northern Cascade Range of Washington, and the Greater Yellowstone area of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Since 1900, lynx sightings in Wisconsin have occurred when the 10-year cycle of snowshoe hares in Canada has crashed. A 1985 study showed that the mean size of home ranges trebled—from 13.2 to 39.2 km2 (5.1 to 15.1 sq mi)—when the density of hares fell from 14.7 to 1/ha (5.95 to 0.40/acre). Lynx tails are completely black-tipped, while bobcat tails have a white ring below the black tip. Intraspecific aggression and consequent cannibalism are rare, but may be more common when food is scarce. No other predator has such a strong cyclic prey base to which it has become uniquely adapted – both behaviorally and physiologically. [1], However, populations are relatively lower in the southern half of the range and are protected from the fur trade. [37] These lynxes may hunt in groups when hares are scarce. Later, when the continent was invaded by the Eurasian lynx for a second time within the last 200,000 years, the populations that settled in the northern part of the continent, now devoid of glaciers, evolved into the Canada lynx. Canada lynx tracks are generally larger than those of the bobcat; thicker fur may make the toe pads appear less prominent in the snow. Therefore, the lynx chooses thick boreal forests (taiga), rocky areas and open forest formations for its habitats. [15] The stubby tail, typical of lynxes, is 5–13 cm (2.0–5.1 in) long; while the bobcat's tail is black only in the upper part, the tail of the Canada lynx has a completely black tip. A hungry lynx will often consume one hare per day, in times of a hare shortage, the lynx will ration the hare for several days. The mating season is roughly a month long (from March to early April). Following a cyclic fall in populations during the mid to late 1980s, there was a sharp decline in the prices and harvest of Canada lynx furs—the average number of pelts exported from Canada and the United States fell from 35,669 in 1980–1984 to 7,360 between 1986 and 1989. [34][47], A specialist predator, the Canada lynx depends heavily on snowshoe hares for food. Canada's LYNX Predator - Limited Edition Silver Commemorative Maple Leaf . A specialist predator, the Canada lynx depends heavily on snowshoe hares for food. [21], Apart from Canada lynxes, coyotes are also major predators of the snowshoe hare. When the hare populations plummet, lynxes often move to areas with more hares, sometimes covering over 1,000 km (620 mi), and tend not to produce litters; as the hares' numbers increase, so does the lynx population. The Canada lynx stands 48–56 cm (19–22 in) tall at the shoulder and weighs between 5 and 17 kg (11 and 37 lb). [14] The Issoire lynx (L. issiodorensis), believed to be the ancestor of the four modern Lynx species, probably originated in Africa 4 mya and occurred in Europe and northern Asia until it fell to extinction around 1 mya. : The ten-year cycle of snowshoe hares—one of the most striking features of the boreal forest—is a product of the interaction between predation and food supplies, as large-scale experiments in the Yukon have demonstrated", 10.1641/0006-3568(2001)051[0025:WDTYCO]2.0.CO;2, "Population regulation in snowshoe hare and Canadian lynx: Asymmetric food web configurations between hare and lynx". [2] The four long canines are used for puncturing and gripping. Roads threaten the lynx by fragmenting its habitat, isolating lynx populations, exposing them to predators, and providing competitor species new access to habitat formerly dominated by the lynx. [25][36] Individuals of the same sex particularly tend to avoid each other, forming "intrasexual" territories—a social structure similar to that of bears, bobcats, cougars and mustelids. Snowshoe hares are the main source of food for Canada lynx. The Canada lynx is sexually dimorphic, with males larger and heavier than females. Most births occur from May to July. [5], The Canada lynx has 28 teeth,[28] the same as in other lynxes but unlike other felids that have 30. [73][74][75][76], Canada lynxes are trapped in specific seasons in most of Alaska and Canada; hunting seasons and quotas are set based on population data. Offspring are weaned at 12 weeks. In Canada and Alaska First Nations populations hunt the Canada lynx for its fur. [39][40], Males tend to occupy larger ranges than do females; for instance, data from a 1980 radio telemetric analysis in Minnesota showed that males' home ranges spread over 145–243 km2 (56–94 sq mi), while those of females covered 51–122 km2 (20–47 sq mi). It too has large feet, with fur between the toes, enabling the lynx to remain on the snow’s surface. The Royal Canadian Geographical Society family of sites: Canadian Geographic student geography challenge, Help designate an official bird for Canada, Grade 8 students exploring Parks Canada sites, Compare countries' statistics and explore our changing world, Innovative projects in the developing world, The revolution of mapping in the First World War, Canadian pilots heroically earn their wings, Canadian Geographic magazine in french: Géographica, Accessibility Standard for Customer Service Plan. The lynx is assisted by its stereoscopic vision in detecting prey and measuring distances. [15] Lynx reproductive cycles and litter sizes have been observed to vary with prey availability; litter size would typically contract in years of snowshoe hare decline (along with high infant mortality rates), and increase when hares were abundant. Canada lynxes have been recorded up to an elevation of 4,310 m (14,140 ft). [37], Canada lynxes at the periphery of a population, given their smaller numbers and susceptibility to separation from the central population by natural barriers (such as rivers), might face more difficulty in breeding with lynxes towards the centre of the population and hence show lower genetic variability. These predators do not hunt the Canadian lynx often though. [15][22] Although no melanistic or albinistic forms of the Canada lynx are known, a specimen from Alaska was reported to have bluish-grey fur. [20] The Eurasian lynx, which prefers prey the size of a roe deer, is twice the size of the Canada lynx, which feeds primarily on the snowshoe hare. The Canada Lynx is most often a predator, and thus is often the top consumer. Struck in 2017 by the Royal Canadian Mint, this piece of coinage stands at the second release in four-part Silver Predator Series. The Royal Canadian Geographical Society is dedicated to making Canada better known to Canadians, and the world. [38] However, a few other studies have reported different responses from Canada lynxes at times of prey scarcity; some lynxes do not show any changes in their ranges, while others may resort to hunting in small areas, occupying small home ranges. The Canadian Lynx is a more dangerous predator and a somewhat larger cat than is the Bobcat. Read More. [15][21], The long, thick fur, uniformly coloured with little to no markings except on the underside, insulates the lynx in its frosty habitat. Canada lynx-bobcat hybrids have shown signs of reproductive success and do not appear to pose any big threat to the parent species. Canadian lynx have been exploited for their fur since the seventeenth century. In his 1792 work The Animal Kingdom, Scottish scientific writer Robert Kerr described a lynx from Canada, giving it the name Felis lynx canadensis. For example, snowmobile traffic creates trails that may allow competitors like coyotes, wolves, and cougars access to lynx winter habitat. [6] Its paws can support almost twice as much weight as a bobcat's before sinking. The lynx lives in the northern parts of the United States and Canada, with much of its time spent in low temperatures. Canada lynx are specialists and prey mostly on snowshoe hares. Females can be induced ovulators when the availability of mates is low, or spontaneous ovulators when several mates are available. [86] This technique, though systematic, might be too expensive to carry out in large areas. Boutin and his colleagues have discovered that the lynx population that spans Canada is actually divided into three genetically distinct subpopulations. The most distinguishing characteristic is the lynx unusually large, densely furred feet that help them travel over snow. They considered it "the earliest recorded example of an exotic cat on the loose in the UK". The lynx continues to occur in most of Alaska and its erstwhile range in Canada. [15] Physical proportions do not vary significantly across the range and are probably naturally selected to allow for survival on smaller prey. [1] By 2010, after an 11-year effort, the lynx had been successfully reintroduced into Colorado. Big Feet. Predators. Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative and Yellowstone National Park. The lynx can cover 8–9 km (5.0–5.6 mi) daily, moving at 0.75–1.46 km/h (0.47–0.91 mph), to procure prey. The RCGS acknowledges that its offices are located on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Peoples, who have been guardians of, and in relationship with, these lands for thousands of years. The lynx's stride is 30–46 cm (12–18 in), while the bobcat's varies between 13 and 41 cm (5 and 16 in). In 1912, American zoologist Gerrit Miller placed it in the genus Lynx, using the name L. The animal remained unidentified at the time and was preserved by Bristol Museum and Art Gallery and was finally identified in a 2014 study. The trapping of Canada lynx is managed for the fur trade through various mechanisms, including closed seasons, quotas and trapping concessions. [1][15][21], A Canada lynx was shot near Newton Abbot in the United Kingdom in 1903 after it attacked two dogs. Being a large predator itself, lynx have few predators, but lynx have been killed by wolves, fishers, bobcats, and coyotes. [1], A survey of the international wildlife trade between 1980 and 2004 recorded that among all lynxes, the Canada lynx accounted for thirty percent of legal items and had little part in illegal trade. [85], Various techniques have been employed to study Canada lynx populations; the data collected can provide useful information on the ecology and distribution of the species and pave the way for effective conservation measures. The Canadian Lynx is a mammel and a heterotroph, most specifically a carnivore. These same qualities also give the lynx a competitive advantage over other predators, such as coyotes, foxes, and … 2000). Snowshoe hare is the primary food of the lynx. For this reason, it has developed a thick coat to protect itself from the cold. To use its carnassials, the lynx must chew the meat with its head to its side. southern edge of lynx range where there is a more diverse carnivore guild, increased competition may lead to higher mortality and could limit lynx numbers (Parker et al. [5][25] Both species walk with the back foot typically following the front foot and often do not follow a straight line. The RCGS is a registered charity. The lynx ( Lynx canadensis) is the principal predator of the snowshoe hare ( see population ecology). In the United States, the Canada lynx occurs in the Blue Mountains, the Cascade Range and the southern Rocky Mountains, the Great Lakes region and New England. It can be also found in western Montana and parts of Idaho and Washington. The study suggested that individuals do not show any significant tendency to avoid or mingle with one another, and thus only passively defend their ranges. [21] However, at times when the hare's numbers drop, Canada lynxes will include other animals in their diet—such as ducks, grouse, moles, ptarmigan, red squirrels, voles and young ungulates (Dall's sheep, mule deer and caribou)—though snowshoe hares continue to be the primary component. Fast Facts: Canada Lynx. Canada Lynx. [32][33][34] These lynxes are good swimmers; one account records a Canada lynx swimming 3.2 km (2 mi) across the Yukon River. The lynx waits for the hare on specific trails or in "ambush beds", then pounces on it and kills it by a bite on its head, throat or the nape of its neck. [55] Environmental factors such as forest fires, precipitation and snowfall might also significantly affect this prey-predator cycle. [2] The large, broad paws are covered in long, thick fur and can spread as wide as 10 cm (3.9 in) to move quickly and easily on soft snow. [15] Canada lynxes will occasionally hunt together, though studies differ on how this affects the success rate compared to hunting solo. [31], The Canada lynx tends to be nocturnal like its primary prey, the snowshoe hare. [2] Similar to other lynxes, black tufts around 4 cm (1.6 in) in length emerge from the tips of the ears, which are lined with black fur. The Canada lynx has a short body, small tail and long legs. The lynx has been successfully reintroduced in Colorado with a stable population by 2019 after becoming extinct in the 1970s. The loup cervier, lucivee, and Indian devil are all names used by old-time Maine woodsmen for the elusive Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis). Canada lynx have large, thick-furred paws that act like snowshoes, which help it hunt during winter — but watch out for the claws! Hunting, focusing less on its sense of hearing to locate prey slopes toward. And open forest formations for its habitats Canada has crashed [ 53 ] populations... 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