Wild cats of Canada
Bobcat (Photo by Gary Kramer, courtesy of USFWS)
When it comes to big cats, many people may think of the iconic tigers of Asia or the lions of Africa. But did you know that we have three wild cat species found in Canada?
All of Canada’s wild cats need large, interconnected habitats. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is working across the country to protect and restore large blocks of habitat and wildlife corridors that these cats need to survive.
Bobcat
A rare sighting of a bobcat (Photo by NCC)
The smallest of Canada’s three wild cat species, the bobcat got its name from its tail, which looks like it’s been cut, or “bobbed.” The bobcat is about three times the size of an average housecat and is often mistaken for Canada lynx. Not only is the bobcat smaller than Canada lynx, but it also has shorter legs, a longer tail that’s black-striped and white-tipped, and smaller ear tufts.
Bobcats are found throughout North America, ranging from southern Canada to the United States and northern Mexico. They can adapt to many different habitats, including forests, swamplands, deserts and even urban areas.
Bobcats eat almost any type of prey, but typically feed on rabbits, birds, mice and squirrels. Despite its small stature, this feisty feline even hunts deer, which can weigh about 10 times more than itself. While mother bobcats are still nursing their kittens, they bring them live mice so that the kittens can hone their hunting skills.
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Canada lynx
Canada lynx (Photo by Mike Dembeck)
Canada lynx is Canada’s most widespread feline species — it can be found in intact forests of Canada and the U.S. Most of its global range occurs in Canada, and it is listed as threatened in the lower 48 states. They are often mistaken for bobcats, but they can be distinguished from them by the longer tufts of fur on their ears and longer back legs. This feline has large paws, and their toes spread out and function much like snowshoes, allowing them to hunt in deep snow.
Cougar
A cougar at Cherry Meadows, BC (Photo by Walter Latter)
One of North America’s most powerful predators, the cougar is the largest wild cat in Canada. A male cougar can measure up to two metres in length and weigh more than 90 kilograms. This feline has the largest range of any land mammal in the western hemisphere, ranging from Yukon to Argentina. It is extirpated (locally extinct) from most of eastern North America but appears to be slowly returning to some parts of its former range.
A female cougar spotted at NCC's Ryan River property in BC. (Photo by Fernando Lessa)
These nocturnal predators can kill animals four times their size. They have even been observed preying on marine mammals along Canada’s West Coast! After making a kill, cougars often bury the carcass, returning to it later for more meals.
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