Canada Lynx

Meet an iconic set of ears. We are home to female ‘Kaya’ and male ‘BB’.

Built for life in deep snow

Lynx are solitary, medium-sized cats found in dense forests where they have plenty of coverage to help them ambush their favourite food, the snowshoe hare. These cats are famous for their tufted black ears, which not only help to keep them warm, but are also believed to act as antennae. Built with long legs and webbed feet, the Canada lynx is perfectly adapted for moving through deep snow and walking across it with snowshoe-like feet.

 

  • IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (at relatively low risk of extinction)
  • Type: Mammal
  • Habitat: Boreal forests of Canada, northern United States, and Alaska
  • Diet: Carnivore – snowshoe hares, grouse, and squirrels
  • Size: 81 to 119 centimeters long
  • Weight: 9.9 to 19.9 kilograms
Canada lynx

Care & Conservation

How we care for them

At the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, we are bringing together our passion for plants and animals with our dedication to taking and inspiring action to sustain wildlife and wild places.
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facts about our animals

Fun Facts About Canada Lynx

Canada lynx have short, stubby tails with a black tip.

Their coats come in light brown, rust colours, or gray, and have spots to provide camouflage.

Lynx paws have hair underneath to provide warmth and grip.

When hunting, lynx do not chase prey over long distances, instead silently stalking for shorter periods before ambushing prey.

Canada lynx hunt at night.

They make dens in abandoned burrows and under fallen trees.

Canada lynx

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