Sam here. I think we can all agree that far too many of the world’s fascinating animals are in danger of disappearing from Planet Earth. To figure out which threatened or endangered animal we wanted to highlight, we went to our state Parks & Wildlife website for their comprehensive list. Sadly there were waaay too many listed and it was hard to single out one in particular until we saw the beautiful and elusive Lynx. With its trademark ear tufts and huge feet, it was clear we wanted to shed some light on this beautiful mammal. Besides, I’m fascinated by cats!
Lynx are a large bob-tailed cat about 3 feet long weighing anywhere from 20-30 pounds, possessing a black-tipped tail about one-eighth of its total length, and only about half the length of its huge hind feet even if mom’s photo makes it look like Mr. Lynx is ginormous compared to moi. For comparison, I’m about 50 lbs. when I hold my breath 🙂 [sizing–yet another technology fail on mom’s part-ugh]. Their coats are grayish with some obscure spots but their single most recognizable characteristic is the fabulous ear tufts that might be nearly as long as the actual ears. Often referred to as a ‘silent predator,’ the lynx is a patient hunter, waiting for the right moment and helped by those enormous hind feet which allow them to move easily across the snowpack to pounce on their preferred meal of choice: snowshoe hares. Their feet are huge at around 8 inches long. Can you say, “Big Foot?!”
Although you’re more likely to see Sasquatch than a lynx in Colorado, there was an ambitious and controversial reintroduction plan in the late 1990’s in the remote San Juan mountains. Nearly 30 years later it has been deemed successful with between 150-250 of these magnificent felines being monitored by radio-satellite collars. Lynx are still considered critically imperiled in Colorado and with a recent population explosion in our state, it does remain to be seen if lynx and humans can eventually co-exist again. We’re rooting for this ‘fur-tastic’ mammal to survive. Have you ever seen one in the furs?
Live, love, bark! <3
I am thrilled to hear of the lynx success here. It’s funny – we’ve have tons and tons of bobcats here but many people mistaken them for lynx (that’s a much cooler animal to see). I think that we’re getting people educated about how to tell the difference. It’s important because we truly want to know if one moves into our neighborhood so we can have a welcome party 🙂
👍🏻
It’s sad that so many animals are endangered. Wild turkeys are a huge success story here in NH. They were endangered and the state Fish & Game Dept. started a program to increase their numbers many years ago. Now you see turkeys everywhere you go. They may not be beautiful birds, but they are impressive!
Always glad to hear of these kinds of success stories! Gobble, gobble. 🙂
A lovely post!😃
Many thanks. I hope the participants inspire all readers to look more closely at all endangered creatures and work to save them. And thanks for swinging by the Ranch. We ❤︎ visitors. 😇
It is so sad that we are in danger of losing so many incredible animals. I hope we wake up in time to make a difference. ♥
The Scottish Wild Cat – a sub-species of the European Wild-Cat – is on the endangered list. I have never seen one but they roam the wild areas of the Scottish Highlands.
I’ll bet they are magnificent. The endangered ones always seem to be. 😉
It’s too bad that people and wild animals can’t learn to co-habitat, but, as you or someone else said, it’s nature that always loses. I haven’t seen a lynx, but we do have bobcats here and I once saw a mom and a baby. Apparently, they had their den just down the hill from my shop. The mom went between the house and the shop, oblivious to my presence. When the baby came up over the hill, it spotted me, and skedaddled back down the hill.
They are so cool so I hope they will survive. Bobcats are cool too and very elusive! 🙂
No Lynx here because there are no hares.
I didn’t realize the lynx was endangered.
It’s too bad too, they are really gorgeous animals.
We love lynx and have seen them here in the extreme, northern part of BC. They are beautiful!
the critters in the cottage xo
We use to have loads of Canadian Lynx but sadly now they are endangered. We hope the state wildlife project to rebuild the groups succeeds.
Well done! We did not know too much about them!
Your Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
Sam, thank you fur speaking fur the endangered lynx! It really is not too late – never too late to help the anipals in need – so if you send me your entry I will add it to the others on the Blogville Arts and Entertainment website. Either way you have earned yourself a badge. Thanks again fur supporting the endangered anipals.
Your Furend
Louis Dog Armstrong
We sent it when it was first mentioned but I’ll have mum resend to you. Yes, anytime is a good time to help anipals.
Such magnificent creatures! When it comes to humans vs. nature, nature always suffers. They’ve built and built around here so that most of the deer’s natural habitat is gone and so people complain about deer in their yards … and deer being hit on the street … where do people think the deer go? What option do they have other than people’s yards for food? Drives me insane!
Nature continues to take a beaten. Hopefully with awareness, survive rates will increase. 😇
I love lynx – they are so beautiful.
good work there Sam. Thanks for letting us know
They’re great-looking cats, aren’t they?
Have a great weekend,
Pit
Love them too, Sam! Only wish I saw one in the wild…
Us too. 🐯
I’ve never seen one in real life, but they always look so beautiful x
They are very spectacular and distinctive cats!
Lynx are beautiful!
We think so too!
No, I’ve never seen one, but I’d love too. We agree with da Phenny.
They are fairly elusive. Too bad, they are so beautiful.
I love their fluffy hindlegs… they look like wearing pants :o) and we hope that all this wonderful animals have a chance to be with us… it would be so sad if we destroy our planet an all the beutiful things what live there…
Their coats are amazingly beautiful and fluffy.