Canada Lynx - Lynx Canadensis
"Shadow of the Forest"
By: Justin Watkins
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Many of us have probably heard about the Canada Lynx before, and thought we knew what they are, but the real question is do we? A common misconception about Lynx is that they are the same as bobcats. Bobcats can be found in almost all of the lower 48 states, while Lynx are mostly found in the northern states that border Canada. Canada Lynx can also be set apart from any other cats by their distinctive, long ear tufts and unusually large paws. They enjoy cold climates, and play a key ecological role as a predator in any environment they exist in.
Description
The Canada Lynx is a rather small cat in the world of wild felines and is best compared to a medium-sized dog. Males weigh about 22 pounds on average, while females weigh about 19 pounds. They have short tails and very long legs that help them to traverse snowy woodland landscapes. In the winter months, Lynx have a dense grayish-brown fur on their backs with white legs and underbellies. In the summer, the Lynx is more reddish to gray-brown. Since the Lynx inhabits regions where there are copious amounts of winter snowfall it has very long legs and huge paws to help it move through the snow. Its large paws act as snowshoes on the top layer of snow, and their long legs put a little "spring" into their step. The Canada Lynx is also set apart from other cats by its short, black tipped tail. They have proven to be a very elusive species, which has granted them the nicknames "Shadow of the Forest" and "Gray Ghost of the North". However, the Canada Lynx faces many dilemmas due to its very specific diet and unavoidable encounters with human beings.
Geographic and Population Changes
The Canada Lynx is known to populate areas that contain Boreal forests. They choose to live in these areas because it is where their primary source of food, the Snowshoe Hare, also lives and thrives. Canada Lynx are known to populate many regions of North America like Canada, Alaska and the northern lower 48 states. In the U.S., Lynx thrive in the subalpine forests of the West and the hardwood, Boreal forests of the East. Lynx are prominent in the North Cascade and Rocky Mountain Ranges in the West, the Great Lakes Region, and Northern Maine. Lynx currently live or are believed to be living in California, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The distribution of the Lynx closely resembles the distribution of its primary prey item, the Snowshoe Hare.
Listing Date and Type of Listing
The Canada Lynx is currently listed as a threatened species. It was listed on March 24, 2000.
Cause of Listing and Current Threats
Human actions like over trapping, habitat devastation and deforestation have all played a part in the reduction of the species' original range. Timber harvest has proved to be one of the most detrimental factors in the decline of the Canada Lynx. Timber harvest and its associated activities have been shown to directly affect the Lynx in almost all of its North American habitats. The deforestation causes the numbers of Snowshoe Hare to decline, and in turn, the Lynx declines as well. Recreational and commercial trapping and hunting also play a role in the decline of the Canada Lynx.
Description of Recovery Plan
The goal of the Canada Lynx recovery plan is to address threats to the species so it can be removed from the endangered species list. The ESA plans to establish management commitments in "core" areas to try and sustain the lynx that exist there. On federal lands long-term guidance plans will be established and on non-federal lands the best management that can be arranged will be put into place. The next step will be to keep track of the number of Lynx in each "core" area. The plan is to measure the movement of Lynx between "core" areas. The secondary areas surrounding the "core" areas will be kept open so Lynx are able to also inhabit them. The factors that limit the habitat of Lynx and cause their population decline will be studied. Lastly, a de-listed monitoring plan will be devised to make sure populations of the Canada Lynx can be sustained.
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| Canada Lynx by Keith Williams |
The Canada Lynx is a rather small cat in the world of wild felines and is best compared to a medium-sized dog. Males weigh about 22 pounds on average, while females weigh about 19 pounds. They have short tails and very long legs that help them to traverse snowy woodland landscapes. In the winter months, Lynx have a dense grayish-brown fur on their backs with white legs and underbellies. In the summer, the Lynx is more reddish to gray-brown. Since the Lynx inhabits regions where there are copious amounts of winter snowfall it has very long legs and huge paws to help it move through the snow. Its large paws act as snowshoes on the top layer of snow, and their long legs put a little "spring" into their step. The Canada Lynx is also set apart from other cats by its short, black tipped tail. They have proven to be a very elusive species, which has granted them the nicknames "Shadow of the Forest" and "Gray Ghost of the North". However, the Canada Lynx faces many dilemmas due to its very specific diet and unavoidable encounters with human beings.
The Canada Lynx is known to populate areas that contain Boreal forests. They choose to live in these areas because it is where their primary source of food, the Snowshoe Hare, also lives and thrives. Canada Lynx are known to populate many regions of North America like Canada, Alaska and the northern lower 48 states. In the U.S., Lynx thrive in the subalpine forests of the West and the hardwood, Boreal forests of the East. Lynx are prominent in the North Cascade and Rocky Mountain Ranges in the West, the Great Lakes Region, and Northern Maine. Lynx currently live or are believed to be living in California, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The distribution of the Lynx closely resembles the distribution of its primary prey item, the Snowshoe Hare.
Listing Date and Type of Listing
The Canada Lynx is currently listed as a threatened species. It was listed on March 24, 2000.
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| www.Dailykos.com |
Cause of Listing and Current Threats
Human actions like over trapping, habitat devastation and deforestation have all played a part in the reduction of the species' original range. Timber harvest has proved to be one of the most detrimental factors in the decline of the Canada Lynx. Timber harvest and its associated activities have been shown to directly affect the Lynx in almost all of its North American habitats. The deforestation causes the numbers of Snowshoe Hare to decline, and in turn, the Lynx declines as well. Recreational and commercial trapping and hunting also play a role in the decline of the Canada Lynx.
 |
| www.anselm.edu |
The goal of the Canada Lynx recovery plan is to address threats to the species so it can be removed from the endangered species list. The ESA plans to establish management commitments in "core" areas to try and sustain the lynx that exist there. On federal lands long-term guidance plans will be established and on non-federal lands the best management that can be arranged will be put into place. The next step will be to keep track of the number of Lynx in each "core" area. The plan is to measure the movement of Lynx between "core" areas. The secondary areas surrounding the "core" areas will be kept open so Lynx are able to also inhabit them. The factors that limit the habitat of Lynx and cause their population decline will be studied. Lastly, a de-listed monitoring plan will be devised to make sure populations of the Canada Lynx can be sustained.
Sources:
Canada lynx home page. (2015, March 10). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/lynx/
Canada Lynx - National Wildlife Federation. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/mammals/canada-lynx.aspx
Basic Facts About Canada Lynx. (2012, February 22). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://www.defenders.org/canada-lynx/basic-facts
Species Profile for Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis). (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=A073
Recovery Outline - Canada Lynx, 21-21. (2005). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/final draft Lynx Recovery Outline 9-05.pdf
Recovery Outline - Canada Lynx, 21-21. (2005). Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/final draft Lynx Recovery Outline 9-05.pdf
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