Wisconsin and Canadian Lynx

Canada lynx have never been common in Wisconsin. Northern Wisconsin forms the southern edge of their historic range. A breeding population may have existed in the state, but declined as trappers caught lynx for the fur trade and loggers and settlers destroyed the northern forests. In addition, lynx suffered from the prevailing prejudice against predators. Beginning in 1865, a state-financed bounty encouraged the killing of lynx. It is thought that by the early 1900s, lynx no longer bred in Wisconsin. However, the bounty was not lifted until 1957.[1]

The Canada Lynx was placed on the Wisconsin Endangered Species List in 1972 than later taken off the list in August of 1997; by 1998 they were listed as Protected Wild Animals. Two years later the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service classified all lynx south of Canada as threatened.

Once they roamed throughout the Rocky Mountains and northern U.S., the lynx is now struggling to survive. The loss of their habitat is due to improper forest management along with the impact of some winter recreational activities play. The creation of exposed areas by the cutting and clearing of trees done by forest management have left the lynx reluctant to cross these areas let alone inhabit them. Another threat is roads and trails that fragment their habitat and isolate their population. Contributing also to their mortality is hunting, trapping and motor vehicles.

Since 1900, lynx sightings in Wisconsin have occurred when the 10-year cycle of snowshoe hares in Canada has crashed. When this happens the animals have to wander farther to find food. Some of their wanderings bring them to Wisconsin. Biologists don’t think that the lynx are breeding in Wisconsin, so all the sightings are probably just visitors, not residents. Lynx research consists of monitoring reports of sighting and deaths. The last dead lynx found in Wisconsin was picked up near a highway in 1992. That same year a hunter mistakenly shot a lynx in northern Wisconsin. This was the last time lynx have been reported in the state. It was also at a time when the snowshoe hare population in Canada had dropped. Since the hare/lynx populations are on a 10-year cycle and the last time lynx were spotted was 1992, we may start to see a few lynx wandering in Wisconsin again. [2]

The Canada Lynx weighs about 20-30 pound with longer hind legs, a short solid black tipped tail, large well-furred paws and tufted ears very similar to the bobcat. They are solitary nocturnal animal that avoid people. Because of this they are seldom seen and little is known about their daily habits.

The lynx primary food (approximately 75% of their diet) is snowshoe hare, but they will also eat red squirrels, some birds and other small mammals including grouse. It has been estimated by biologists that, on average, a lynx can eat 150-200 hares a year – that’s killing every other night with 1 to 10 misses. So, behind rock, bushes and even in trees you will find these solitary hunters stalking their prey mostly at night. Very capable of covering extremely long distances in search of food from 5 to 94 square miles.

After mating season in late January or February the male and female separate and leave all the rearing of the young to the female. Approximately two months after mating birth occurs, average litter is two to four kittens. The kittens will start eating meat as early as one month old, but will not be weaned until around three months. They will spend their first year with their mother until about mid winter when she will drive them away as the next denning season nears. For a short period of time after leaving their mother, the young lynxes will stay together. Currently it is unknown whether lynx are breeding in Wisconsin, but they are presently exist in Canada, Alaska, Montana, Washington, Idaho, Minnesota, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

The lynx is just one of the rare mammals the DNR conducts several snow track surveys for with no specific management plan put in motion. Recommendations have been made by biologists to have large tracts of forest maintained to help enable their survival along with other Wisconsin carnivores. Significant threat to their future in this state still remains with the increase access of human in forest. With more people in the forest the more likely a lynx will encounter people. Sometimes resulting in the death of the lynx either unintentional or intentional shooting, trapping or being hit by a car. Public education is important to their survival in Wisconsin. So you may ask – what can I do?

The DNR invites people to get involved in their Trapper Alert Program.

The Trapper Alert Program informs trappers that if they do capture a Canada lynx or other endangered species, they should notify their local DNR wildlife manager, who will assist them in releasing the animal. The trapper will not be prosecuted and no questions will be asked. Through the Trapper Alert Program, trappers help DNR researchers monitor populations of endangered species and gain important information about individual animals[3].

You can also get involved with the volunteer carnivore track surveys, if you see a lynx, please report it to your local DNR this helps them to track the lynx movement.

Other sources:

http://lynx.uio.no/jon/lynx/p-usa03.htm

http://www.nwf.org/cats/catsGreatlakes.cfm

http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/lynx.htm

 

---

[1] Wisconsin DNR

[2] Wisconsin DNR

[3] Wisconsin DNR

---

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Another Wisconsin Wild Kitty
• Siberian Lynx
• Coyotes in Wisconsin