Lynx Animal Information

Lynx are medium-sized wildcats. There are four species: the Canadian lynx, the Iberian (Spanish) lynx, the Eurasian lynx and the Bobcat.

  1. Description

    • Lynxes have long legs, short tails and black tufts of fur on their ear tips. They have thick fur and large paws that act as snowshoes. An adult lynx can weigh 22 to 44 pounds.

    Habitat

    • Lynxes inhabit high-altitude old-growth forests. The Canadian lynx is found in Canada and parts of Alaska. The Bobcat inhabits forests across North America. The Eurasian lynx lives across much of Asia, and the Iberian lynx is found in southern Spain.

    Behavior

    • Lynxes are diurnal, solitary creatures. They live in dens like other wildcats and hunt small deer, mice, voles and birds. The Canadian lynx relies on snowshoe hares as its main diet.

    Lifestyle

    • Mating begins in late winter, with females giving birth to two to six kittens per year. The young stay with their mother for about nine months. Wild lynxes can have a lifespan up to 17 years.

    Interesting Facts

    • The Iberian lynx is the most endangered cat in the world, with fewer than 100 left in the wild. The Canadian lynx has bigger feet than a 200-pound mountain lion. The lynx is the national animal in Macedonia and Romania.