BOBCAT ( Lynx Rufus) & Lynxes (Lynx Canadensis)

Probably the least seen in the Rockies are Bobcats and Lynxes and for good reason. This is the most rare of the cats of Alberta. When hunting, they prefer to hide and wait for their prey. They are the perfect "ambush" hunter. They like ledges, from where they can jump down on prey, and thickets where they can use their camouflage expertise. They have a short "burst speed" and will seldom chase a potential meal for more than 200 or 250 feet. They like to live along small rivers and usually come out to hunt in the daylight hours.

They average about 3 feet in length and have brownish coats in the summer. The extra long rear legs, smaller size and very large paws make them easy to distinguish from their cousin the Cougar. When hunting is good they can reach 40 pounds.
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BOBCATS
A bobcats' coat is yellowish brown and spotted. Hard to see are the dark horizontal stripes on the front and near the limbs. Notice the black bars on each cheek

Both species breed from February to May with one to five kittens in a litter. The more scarce food becomes the fewer offspring will be produced. This way they do not outgrow their food supply.

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A Lynx differs from a bobcat as it has a shorter tail, longer legs, much longer and pointy ear tufts, longer facial ruff and larger paws. You would be really lucky to get close enough to see that the end of a lynx's tail is black. There are more Lynx in Alberta than anywhere else and they are the true "Canadian" species. They feed on snowshoe hares and can make a meal of 200 or more hares in a year. If hares are scarce (hare today and gone tomorrow!) lynx (and bobcats) will feed on mice, squirrels, grouse, ptarmigan and other small birds.

LYNX

There have been reports of sightings of Lynx and Bobcat near Lake Louise but, as with most wildlife, your best bet is to look further north in Jasper National Park.

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