A little linx which visited Jean Marie River for a while. Photo courtesy Tammy Neal

The Canadian Lynx is a mammal of the cat family; larger than the Bobcat, with whom it shares parts of its range, and over twice the size of the domestic cat.

The dense fur is silvery brown and may bear blackish markings. Average size is 11 kg (24 lbs), 90 cm (36 in) in length and a shoulder height of 60 cm (24 in). Males are larger than females. In summer, its coat takes on a more reddish brown colour. This lynx has a furry ruff which resembles a double-pointed beard, a short tail with a black tip and long furry tufts on its ears. Its long legs with broad furred feet aid the Canadian Lynx in traveling through deep snow.

The Lynx is a solitary and secretive animal, usually active at night, and requires a large territory. It breeds in spring and one to five kittens are born. The survival of the young depends heavily on the availability of prey species. It hunts for hares, rodents and birds, sometimes killing larger animals such as deer.

Lynx rely mainly on hearing and sight to locate prey.