Description
Anatomy of Lynx
The Canada Lynx resembles similiar physical attributes of the bobcat and is often confused with it. The lynx is apart of the feline family and is twice the size of the average house cat. It has a very short body and small tail but has long legs. The lynx is often hunted for its thick fur coat that varies in color per season (grey coat in winter, brown coat in summer). The most distinguisable feature of the Canada Lynx is its black tips on the ends of its tails and tips of its triangular-shaped ears. They also have retractable claws (for killing prey), when they walk, their claws are in. These cats also have a very flexible spine allowing it to reach all parts of its body.
The Canada Lynx are very territorial animals, the males live alone and are only found around other lynx during breeding season. The females are then left to care for the baby kittens. They can swim quite well and are also nocturnal animals, meaning they can see and hunt in the dark. The lynx, like most cats, are very sanitary and it will spend lots of time keeping itself clean (by licking itself). It will also spend time sharpening its claws by scratching trees or pieces of wood. By making marks on trees, the lynx leaves a message to other lynx so they know of its presense. This is one of the ways that cats keep in touch with each other.
A captive lynx will generally live up to 21 years, the life expectancy of a wild Canada lynx is lower, at 15 years. Since the Canada Lynx live in colder climates, to conserve energy from the cold they spend most time bedded down. They have an average wieght of 8-14kg and an average height of 60cm.
The Canada Lynx are very territorial animals, the males live alone and are only found around other lynx during breeding season. The females are then left to care for the baby kittens. They can swim quite well and are also nocturnal animals, meaning they can see and hunt in the dark. The lynx, like most cats, are very sanitary and it will spend lots of time keeping itself clean (by licking itself). It will also spend time sharpening its claws by scratching trees or pieces of wood. By making marks on trees, the lynx leaves a message to other lynx so they know of its presense. This is one of the ways that cats keep in touch with each other.
A captive lynx will generally live up to 21 years, the life expectancy of a wild Canada lynx is lower, at 15 years. Since the Canada Lynx live in colder climates, to conserve energy from the cold they spend most time bedded down. They have an average wieght of 8-14kg and an average height of 60cm.
Hunting Tactics
The unsuspecting snowshoe hare.
The Canada Lynx prefer to hunt at night. They are very patient animals, they will wait hours for prey (most likely snowshoe hares) to come along. Since the lynx are not fast animals, they are very sneaky in catching food. The coat of the lynx acts like camoflouge, allowing the lynx to hide in a nearby bush to pounce on the unsuspecting prey. The lynx hearing is very sharp and it depends on this and sight to capture prey. When a snowshoe hare (or other prey) comes along, the lynx will jump out and chase the animal until it captures it. The lynx is willing to swim across small bodies of water in order to get its prey. They are solitary hunters. The lynx feet act like snowshoes, allowing them to have an advantage over other animals (cougar, wolf) because they can hunt on snow to capture the hare. A lynx usually kills a small animal by biting it's neck with its sharp teeth. If the prey is larger, the lynx will suffocate the animal. The lynx uses it's sharp teeth, called carnassials, to cut into the flesh of its prey. It will not waste any edible part of the animal.
The Life Cycle
Adult mother lynx with kitten
The Canada Lynx tend to breed in late winter or early spring. The female lynx gives birth to 1-4 young after a gestation period for about 2 months. The females mate only one male however, the males have multiple partners in their life span. The males do not play a role in the family life. Since they are nocturnal animals, the lynxes mate at night. If low prey is available, the female may not concieve. Dens are usually made from hollow logs and trees. Lynx kittens have an average weight of 197-211 grams at birth, with their eyes shut.
Female lynx leave their scent so that males know about their condition (to mate). Before a male and female can mate, the two must become acquainted (to ensure neither will attack). That cats go through a period called courtship which involves lots of time spent together hunting and chasing. After several days, the two mate (multiple times). Around 10 weeks after, the female give birth to 1-4 young and she raises them alone. Like most cats, the kittens are born with their eyes closed. They are completely dependant on their mother for food, shelter and protection. The female lynx is very protective and will stay with her young until she needs to hunt. When she does, the mother moves the kittens to a different place (to keep them safe from predators).
The kittens grow up quickly. At 2 weeks, their eyes would be open and they can them keep themselves warm. However, the mother will remain their source for food for another 3-4 months. At 6 weeks, the kittens follow their mother on short trips from the den and when she hunts, they stay at home. They can now eat solid food which includes the pieces of animals the mother brings them back. When they grow older, she will take them with her.
As the young Canada Lynx grow, they become more active and curious. They are quite good tree climbers (due to their sharp claws). But when they grow up, they will not spend as much time in the trees. Adult lynx do not climb trees unless escaping danger. Unlike the common belief, they do not leap on prey from trees. They also spend lots of time playing games (fighting, chasing). These games prepare them to become adult predators. The young lynx have a natural instinct to kill animals for food but they do not know how. The mother will help her young become good hunters in various ways. Sometimes, she will bring home half-dead animals for the kittens to practice stalking and killing. It is an important part in learning to become a predator. When they grow to be 6-8 months old, they will go with their mother to hunt.
When they grow to be 1-years-old, the kittens would have to leave home. The mother is ready to mate again and create another family. Each lynx has to find their own home range, females tend to live close to their mother while males travel long distances away. This is a dangerous time for the lynx, some may wander into roads and get hit while others may have difficulty finding shelter and getting enough food.
If they survive, the kittens will soon start families of their own. Females are able to have children when they are 1-years-old. Males have to be at least 2 years of age. If they are lucky, they can live 10-12 years.
Female lynx leave their scent so that males know about their condition (to mate). Before a male and female can mate, the two must become acquainted (to ensure neither will attack). That cats go through a period called courtship which involves lots of time spent together hunting and chasing. After several days, the two mate (multiple times). Around 10 weeks after, the female give birth to 1-4 young and she raises them alone. Like most cats, the kittens are born with their eyes closed. They are completely dependant on their mother for food, shelter and protection. The female lynx is very protective and will stay with her young until she needs to hunt. When she does, the mother moves the kittens to a different place (to keep them safe from predators).
The kittens grow up quickly. At 2 weeks, their eyes would be open and they can them keep themselves warm. However, the mother will remain their source for food for another 3-4 months. At 6 weeks, the kittens follow their mother on short trips from the den and when she hunts, they stay at home. They can now eat solid food which includes the pieces of animals the mother brings them back. When they grow older, she will take them with her.
As the young Canada Lynx grow, they become more active and curious. They are quite good tree climbers (due to their sharp claws). But when they grow up, they will not spend as much time in the trees. Adult lynx do not climb trees unless escaping danger. Unlike the common belief, they do not leap on prey from trees. They also spend lots of time playing games (fighting, chasing). These games prepare them to become adult predators. The young lynx have a natural instinct to kill animals for food but they do not know how. The mother will help her young become good hunters in various ways. Sometimes, she will bring home half-dead animals for the kittens to practice stalking and killing. It is an important part in learning to become a predator. When they grow to be 6-8 months old, they will go with their mother to hunt.
When they grow to be 1-years-old, the kittens would have to leave home. The mother is ready to mate again and create another family. Each lynx has to find their own home range, females tend to live close to their mother while males travel long distances away. This is a dangerous time for the lynx, some may wander into roads and get hit while others may have difficulty finding shelter and getting enough food.
If they survive, the kittens will soon start families of their own. Females are able to have children when they are 1-years-old. Males have to be at least 2 years of age. If they are lucky, they can live 10-12 years.
The Canadian Lynx © / Site Author: Sabrina.M (The Professer) ® / Meadowvale Secondary School / Published December 13 2011 / Last updated December 19 2011