It’s no secret that close range encounters with a Canada lynx are few and far between, as the creatures are endangered due to declining populations.
Canada lynx are very similar to bobcats, but have longer legs and larger, furry feet which helps them to navigate the snow more easily.
Of course, there are healthy populations of these creatures in parts of Canada and Alaska, but nevertheless, getting an opportunity to catch one of them on video is incredibly rare…
ESPECIALLY three.
According to Outdoor Life, this video footage was recorded in Alaska, where you can visibly see one Canada lynx feeding off the carcass of a fellow lynx.
In the background, you can see another looking on, appearing to be keeping guard from other possible predators.
Once the lynx is finished feeding, it almost appears to be burying the dead animal in the snow, kicking snow over the carcass at a very rapid pace.
However, the onlooking creature proceeds to walk up, and drag the carcass from underneath the snow, appearing to want a piece of it itself.
Lynx primarily prey on snowshoe hares, but when their population begins to dwindle at times, male lynx have a tendency to feed off of their kittens, and also females on top of that, which is more than likely what is going on in this scene here.
The caption explains:
“The wintertime can be incredibly harsh for predators like the lynx, as food becomes scarce and the weather becomes extremely cold. Prey they may rely on in the warmer months have hunkered down for the cold, unforgiving ones ahead and are harder for the cats to source.
This is particularly true for predators that rely heavily on a specific type of prey, such as the lynx’s reliance on snowshoe hares. The population of these prey animals can fluctuate in cycles, making it even more challenging for the lynx to find food.
In areas where hares are not available, lynx resort to hunting other smaller prey like rodents or birds. But those sources of food are less consistent and not as rich in calories, making it harder for the lynx to survive. Eating carrion is also a less desirable option, as it’s not a fresh food and can also be a source of disease.
The harsh winter conditions, combined with the scarcity of food, can take a toll on predators’ health and reduce their ability to reproduce, which can lead to a decrease in their population.
Some predators have adapted to these conditions through behaviors such as hibernation or migration, but for those that can’t, survival can be a real struggle during the winter months.”
It’s hard out there for a lynx.
