Canada lynx

Similar in size and appearance to a bobcat. Lynx have distinctive long, thin tufts of fur on the tips of their ears and short, black-tipped tails. Their fur is mostly gray-brown, often with faint spotting. Lynx feet are large and their hind legs are long in proportion with the rest of the body.

On average, Canada lynx are 30 to 35 inches (75 to 90 centimeters) long and weigh around 15 to 30 pounds (6 to 14 kilograms). Males are typically a bit larger than females. 

This wild cat lives in the cold, northern forests of North America —a habitat known as boreal forest. In particular, the lynx favors patches of regenerating forest within older stands of trees with a mix of tree heights. These regenerating patches usually feature dense undergrowth that serves as habitat for snowshoe hares.

Up to 15 years in the wild. In human care, this species can live for up to 22 years. 

Lynx mostly communicate with one another through scent marking, but they also will communicate using sound with a range of barks, growls, yowls, and cries.

Lynx primarily eat snowshoe hares but will also eat rodents, birds, squirrels, and other small mammals, particularly in summer.

Lynx are active both day and night, though they tend to be most active at dawn and dusk (crepuscular).

Mostly solitary. 

Mating occurs in late winter. After a gestation of about two months, females give birth to litters of one to four kittens, usually in May or June. Litter size often depends on hare abundance.

Major threats to the Canada lynx include habitat loss and fragmentation, competition with coyotes which have encroached on some lynx habitat, and climate change which is altering the snowy ecosystems these wild cats inhabit. The Canada lynx population found in the contiguous U.S. is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and is listed as endangered in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in Canada. 

Yukon, Rocky, and Jasper are an all-male, sibling group born on May 23, 2024, at John Ball Zoo in Michigan. The trio came to the zoo in July 2025 as part of Species Survival Program (SSP) recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Housing currently non-breeding groups like this still supports the SSP program by allowing other zoos to have the space to focus on breeding genetically valuable individuals.

Want to find the animals? 

Yukon enjoys watching wildlife and people walk by the exhibit and can sometimes be found hiding in the bushes near the front of the exhibit. Rocky is a little more independent than his brothers and can sometimes be found resting alone. Jasper is usually near at least one of his siblings, or resting under the shortest nest box in the shade.

On warm days, the brothers may be found relaxing in shady spots scattered around the exhibit, especially under the shade structure near the A/C unit. On cold days, look for them in the heated nest boxes.

Want to tell them apart? 

Rocky has white toes on his front right and back left paws. Yukon has pointed eye markings. Jasper has rounded eye markings.