Canada Lynx
The Canada lynx is a medium-sized wild cat that demonstrates remarkable 9-10 year population cycles with its primary prey, the snowshoe hare.
The Canada lynx is a medium-sized wild cat that demonstrates remarkable 9-10 year population cycles with its primary prey, the snowshoe hare. This cycle, documented through nearly a century of Hudson's Bay Company fur trading records (1821-1934), represents one of the clearest examples of predator-prey population dynamics in nature.
Lynx show strong numerical response to prey availability: they have larger litters and higher kit survival when hares are abundant, while reproductive success plummets when hares are scarce. This creates the characteristic lag where lynx populations peak after hare populations peak.
Notable Traits of Canada Lynx
- 10-year population cycle
- Specialist predator on snowshoe hares
- Strong numerical response to prey availability