Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

Canada lynx are smaller than the European lynx with a shorter tail and longer hind legs. They have long black ear tufts. Canada lynx have thick cushions of hair on the soles of their large feet, which act like snowshoes. They are twice as effective as bobcats at supporting their weight on the snow.

Lead Region:  Mountain-Prairie Region (Region 6)
Date Listed: Mar 24, 2000
Where Listed: U.S.A. (CO, ID, ME, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, OR, UT, VT, WA, WI, WY)

  • States/US Territories in which the Canada Lynx, (Contiguous U.S. DPS) is known to occur:  California , Colorado , Idaho , Maine , Michigan , Minnesota , Montana , New Hampshire , New York , Oregon , Utah , Vermont , Washington , Wisconsin , Wyoming

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 44 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
06/26/2009 74 FR 30617 30619 Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation; Draft Environmental Impact Statement Availability and Public Meetings
02/25/2009 74 FR 8615 8702 Revised Designation of Critical Habitat for the Contiguous United States Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx
12/18/2008 73 FR 76990 76994 90-Day Finding on a Petition To Change the Listing Status of the Canada Lynx
02/28/2008 73 FR 10859 10896 Revised Critical Habitat for the Contiguous United States Distinct Population Segment ofthe Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis): Proposed rule.
04/18/2007 72 FR 19549 19551 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of Seven Wildlife Species and Two Plant Species in the Mountain-Prairie Region
Most Recent Special Rule Publications (Showing 2 of 2 )
Date Citation Page Title
03/24/2000 65 FR 16051 16086 Determination of Threatened Status for the Contiguous U.S. Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx and Related Rule; Final Rule
12/04/1980 45 FR 80444 80448 Final Findings for Export of Bobcat, Lynx, River Otter, Alaskan Gray Wolf & Alaskan Brown Bear Taken in 80-81 Season

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
09/14/2005 Recovery Outline for the Contiguous United States Distinct Population Segment of Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) View Implementation Progress Outline
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 1 of 1 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
04/18/2007 72 FR 19549 19551 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of Seven Wildlife Species and Two Plant Species in the Mountain-Prairie Region
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation

    • » Critical Habitat

    Current Critical Habitat Documents (Showing 4 of 4 )
    Date Citation Page Title Document Type Status
    02/25/2009 74 FR 8615 8702 Revised Designation of Critical Habitat for the Contiguous United States Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx Final Rule Active
    02/28/2008 73 FR 10859 10896 Revised Critical Habitat for the Contiguous United States Distinct Population Segment ofthe Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis): Proposed rule. Proposed Rule Not Required
    11/09/2006 71 FR 66007 66061 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Contiguous United States Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx Final Rule Not Required
    11/09/2005 70 FR 68293 68328 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Contiguous United States Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx; Proposed Rule Proposed Rule Not Required

    To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov

    » Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 5 of 5 )
    HCP Plan Summaries
    Cedar River Watershed HCP
    City of Tacoma, Tacoma Water HCP
    Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Lands
    Plum Creek Timber I-90 HCP, Amendment (addition of Canada lynx and Puget Sound/Coastal DPS of bull trout)
    West Fork Timber HCP, Amendment (Addition of Bull Trout and Lynx)

    » Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 5 of 7 : view all)
    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    12/18/2008 73 FR 76990 76994 90-Day Finding on a Petition To Change the Listing Status of the Canada Lynx
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial
    • 07/08/1998 63 FR 36993 37013 ETWP; Proposal To List the Contiguous United States Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx; Proposed Rule
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Warranted
  • Proposed Listing, Threatened
    • 05/27/1997 62 FR 28653 28657 ETWP; 12-Month Finding for a Petition To List the Contiguous United States Population of the Canada Lynx
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Warranted but precluded
    • 12/27/1994 59 FR 66507 66509 ETWP; 12-Month Finding for a Petition to List As Endangered or Threatened the Contiguous United States Population of the Canada Lynx
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Not warranted
    • 08/26/1994 59 FR 44123 44124 ETWP; 90-Day Finding for a Petition to List as Endangered or Threatened the Contiguous United States Population of the Canada Lynx and to Emergency List a Southern Rocky Mountain Population
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 20, 2009