Endangered Canada lynx spotted in Rutland County

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https://vtdigger.org/2024/08/21/endangered-canada-lynx-spotted-in-rutland/

Endangered Canada lynx spotted in Rutland County

Habitat loss has led the Canada lynx to become more and more rare in Vermont, but conservation efforts are underway.

By Emma Malinak
August 21, 2024, 1:31 pm

Vermonter captures rare Canada lynx walking on Rutland County road. Video courtesy of Gary Shattuck

The Canada lynx, a rare wild cat, has been reported in Vermont for the first time in six years, according to a press release from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.

The lynx was seen walking along a road in Rutland County on Aug. 17 and was recorded on video by several residents, said Brehan Furfey, a wildlife biologist with the department, in the Wednesday press release.

Canada lynx are endangered in Vermont and threatened — meaning likely to become endangered — in the United States.

Their endangered status has made lynx rare to spot in Vermont, Furfey said. Between 2016 and 2018, the state department recorded only seven confirmed reports of the species. The most recent credible report came from Jericho in 2018, according to the press release.

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[2naSalit]

1. Beautiful.

Looks rather healthy.

The species is in trouble and should be protected by the ESA. In the Rockies they have been noticed breeding with bobcats, in some cases, due to the sparse availability for mates. They also must feed on a snowshoe hare (truly a prey specific species) every 36 - 50 hours to survive. They travel great distances in search of food and mating opportunities. Most of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is (or was, haven't kept up since -45 showed up) designated essential habitat for the Canada Lynx. I have never seen one in the wild, personally.