Mammals · Carnivora · Felidae

Canadian Lynx

Lynx canadensis

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Its breeding cycle is extraordinarily tied to that of the snowshoe hare, almost its only prey, whose numbers swing on a roughly ten-year cycle. Its enormous furred feet act as natural snowshoes.

Weight

8 kg – 17 kg

Size

67 cm – 1.1 m

Lifespan

14 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestTundraCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Feline Temperate forest Tundra Mammal

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Fun facts

The snowshoe hare can make up as much as 90% of its diet in some populations.
In years when hares are scarce, females may not breed at all.
Its large furred feet spread its weight so it can hunt effectively over deep snow.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Dense boreal forest of Canada, Alaska and the northern United States, closely tied to the range of the snowshoe hare
Birth weight: 175 - 235 grams
Size at birth: Blind at birth, its eyes opening between 10 and 17 days
Sexual maturity: Female: 10-21 months | Male: 24-33 months
Gestation / incubation: 60-70 days
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 8 young per litter (2-4 most often), strongly shaped by how plentiful hares are
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of 26.8 years in captivity