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            Lynx canadensis- The Canadian lynx, has
                   characteristic snowshoe-like feet designed to
assist them in their
travels across snow-
covered habitat. This species
averages around 30 to
40 pounds at maturity.
Though they are slightly
heavier then a bobcat, the
frame of this feline species
is longer, their back stands taller and they tend to be leaner, giving the impression
                  they weigh more than they do. Another distinctive
                  characteristic of Canadian lynx are the large
                  muttonchops and the black tuffs of fur extending
                  off the tips of their ears.

Lynx can purr, and growl, and will also vocalize a hooting call, especially during breeding season, which is the first part of the year, usually January to March. Unlike the bobcat and Eurasian lynx that can breed and conceive a second litter in the late spring or early summer, the breeding season of the Canada lynx is much shorter. It is extremely rare for a Canada lynx to ever conceive a second litter, or to come into estrus after April. If a female Canada lynx fails to conceive between January and April, it will most likely be another year before she will breed again.

American populations of Canada lynx are threatened in the wild. All Canadian lynx are regulated by the availability of their main prey species, the snowshoe hare. Some years there is a sharp decline in the hare population and when this happens, the success of Canadian lynx reproduction will be limited. This natural cycle causes the genetic diversity of Canadian lynx to periodically crash and then recover quickly in good years with large litters. This bust and boom phenomenon has reduced the genetic diversity of this species. I suspect this compromise of genetic diversity has negatively impacted the captive population. Canadian lynx offspring seem to be less able to resist opportunistic parasitic organisms that bloom under stress, such as coccidia, and giardia and campylobacter. For this reason, it is best not to transfer kittens to a new home before the age of 7 weeks.

Canadian lynx can produce litters as large as 7 or 8 cubs, but average 3 to 4. This species takes longer than bobcats to mature and most females do not conceive until their third winter. Canadian lynx offspring can be left with their mother longer than other species and still be relatively easy to tame down. Because of this and the fact that the kittens are more fragile, it is best to let the natural mother take care of the litter for three weeks before they are pulled for hand rearing.

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