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Lynx canadensis Kerr, 1792
Canadian Lynx; Lynx
Family: Felidae
Introduction to the Mammals of BC

Photograph

© David Shackleton     (Photo ID #3393)

Map

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Distribution of Lynx canadensis in British Columbia.
(Click on the map to view a larger version.)
Source: Map courtesy of the Province of British Columbia (2008).

Species Information


The Canada Lynx is one of Canada's three large cat species and one of four species of Lynx worldwide . It is a solitary, not often seen, forest-dwelling large cat that is active at dawn and dusk. It is a distinctive species, with a silvery brown coat, long legs, broad furred feet, short tail with black tips, ruffed face, and long tufts of hair on its ears (Hatler et al. 2008, Wikipedia 2021). It may be confused with the smaller Bobcat (Lynx rufus), although bobcats are usually (though not always) smaller than lynx and have distinctive black bars on the forelegs which are absent in lynx (Wikipedia 2021).

Distribution

The Canadian Lynx is found across most of Canada and in Alaska, Montana, Vermont, Idaho, Washington, and Wyoming. It is rare in Utah, Minnesota, and New England. In BC, the Lynx is found throughout most of the mainland of the province, but is not found on the coastal islands (Hatlet et al. 2008).

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
NativeS5YellowNAR (May 2001)



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Species References

Hatler, David F., David W. Nagorsen and Allison M. Beal. 2008. Carnivores of British Columbia. Royal BC Museum Handbook, Victoria.

Wikipedia. 2021. Lynx. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynx Accessed online June 21, 2021, 11:13.

General References

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