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Canada Lynx

Lynx canadensis

Mammal · family Felidae · order Carnivora

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Canada Lynx
Photo: Michael Zahra, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Threatened (some populations)[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
15 states[3]
Longest recorded life
26.8 years[4]

The Canada Lynx is a wild cat in the family Felidae[5]. It is listed as Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act, and it is native to 15 US states and territories, including Alaska, Maine and Montana[1][3].

Conservation status

In the United States the Canada Lynx has the status Threatened under the Endangered Species Act, listed March 24, 2000[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide and N4 (Apparently Secure) nationally[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. International trade is controlled under CITES Appendix II[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Threatened, listed March 24, 2000 (Wherever Found in Contiguous U.S.)
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N4 (Apparently Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
CITES (international trade)[8] Appendix II
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Canada Lynx lives

NatureServe lists the Canada Lynx as native in 15 US states and territories, from Alaska to Maine and from Washington to New Mexico[3]. The ESA listing names several states in its range, including California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Utah and Wisconsin[1]. NatureServe ranks it as gone or possibly gone from Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania[10].

Alaska: native, state rank S4AKMaine: native, state rank S2MEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: native, state rank S1VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S1NHWashington: native, state rank S1WAIdaho: native, state rank S1IDMontana: native, state rank S3MTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SUNDMinnesota: native, state rank S3MNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: native, state rank S1MINew York: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXNYMassachusetts: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXMAOregon: native, state rank S1ORNevada: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXNVWyoming: native, state rank S1WYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXINOhio: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXOHPennsylvania: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: native, state rank S1UTColorado: native, state rank S1CONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: native, state rank SNRNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[11].
Show state ranks (21 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlaskaS4Apparently Secure
ColoradoS1Critically Imperiled
IdahoS1Critically Imperiled
IndianaSXPresumed Extirpated
MaineS2Imperiled
MassachusettsSXPresumed Extirpated
MichiganS1Critically Imperiled
MinnesotaS3Vulnerable
MontanaS3Vulnerable
NevadaSXPresumed Extirpated
New HampshireS1Critically Imperiled
New MexicoSNRNot Ranked
New YorkSXPresumed Extirpated
North DakotaSUUnrankable
OhioSXPresumed Extirpated
OregonS1Critically Imperiled
PennsylvaniaSXPresumed Extirpated
UtahS1Critically Imperiled
VermontS1Critically Imperiled
WashingtonS1Critically Imperiled
WyomingS1Critically Imperiled

Habitat

The Canada Lynx lives in boreal and montane regions with conifer or mixed trees and thick undergrowth[12]. NatureServe also records woodland, alpine areas, tundra and forested wetland[13]. It sometimes steps into open tree cover, rocky ground or tundra to hunt when prey is plentiful[12]. For resting or giving birth, it uses a den such as a hollow tree, a space under a stump or thick brush[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[13]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Canada Lynx is a meat eater that mostly hunts small mammals and birds, especially snowshoe hares[14][15]. It sometimes eats squirrels, beaver, deer, moose, muskrat or carrion, and it may store food for later[14]. A typical adult is about 107 cm (42 in) long[16]. It weighs about 40 lb[17]. Females reach breeding age at about 498 days[18]. The oldest known lifespan is a record from captivity, not a typical lifespan[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[16] 107 cm (42 in)
Typical adult weight[17] 18.1 kg (40 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 26.8 years (captivity)
Litter or clutch size[19] 3.5
Gestation or incubation[20] 63 days
Female maturity[18] 498 days (about 1.4 years)
Food habits[15] Carnivore
Active[21] nocturnal
Migration[22] non-migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[23]

  • 80% warm-blooded vertebrates
  • 20% fish

When to look for it

The Canada Lynx is active at night and at dawn and dusk[24][21]. NatureServe lists it as a non-migrant, though populations can differ[22]. Observation records on GBIF are highest in January, February and December[25]. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[25].

January: 1,457 recordsJanFebruary: 1,051 recordsFebMarch: 887 recordsMarApril: 124 recordsAprMay: 64 recordsMayJune: 53 recordsJunJuly: 56 recordsJulAugust: 91 recordsAugSeptember: 79 recordsSepOctober: 52 recordsOctNovember: 591 recordsNovDecember: 1,114 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[25].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January1,457
February1,051
March887
April124
May64
June53
July56
August91
September79
October52
November591
December1,114

Where to see it

This species is protected or at risk, so we show its range only at the state level. We do not publish parks, nesting, spawning or wintering sites.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Alaska, Minnesota, Colorado, Montana, Washington[26]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Canada Lynx endangered?
It is listed as Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act, not Endangered[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally[2].
Where does the Canada Lynx live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as native in 15 US states and territories, including Alaska, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota and Washington[3].
What does the Canada Lynx eat?
It mainly eats small mammals and birds, especially snowshoe hares[14].
How big is a Canada Lynx?
A typical adult is about 107 cm (42 in) long[16]. It weighs about 40 lb[17].
How long does a Canada Lynx live?
The oldest known lifespan is a record from captivity, not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Under the US Endangered Species Act, Canada Lynx has the status Threatened, listed March 24, 2000 (USFWS ECOS). Listed entity: Wherever Found in Contiguous U.S.. States in the listed range: California, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana,... USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Canada Lynx: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Canada Lynx as native in 15 US states and territories: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wyoming. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 26.8 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) is a mammal in the family Felidae, order Carnivora. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N4 (Apparently Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix II (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe ranks Canada Lynx as extirpated or possibly extirpated (SX or SH) in: Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe state ranks for Canada Lynx (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Canada Lynx. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Habitat types NatureServe records for Canada Lynx: Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Alpine, Tundra, Forested wetland. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on food for Canada Lynx. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 107 cm (42 in). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 18.1 kg (40 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 498 days (about 1.4 years). AnAge
  19. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 3.5. AnAge
  20. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 63 days. AnAge
  21. Activity time in EltonTraits 1.0: nocturnal. EltonTraits 1.0
  22. NatureServe migration category for Canada Lynx: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  23. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 80% warm-blooded vertebrates, 20% fish. EltonTraits 1.0
  24. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Nocturnal, Crepuscular. NatureServe Explorer
  25. GBIF observation records of Canada Lynx in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  26. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Canada Lynx: Alaska, Minnesota, Colorado, Montana, Washington. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Michael Zahra, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.