Shockingly Rare Black Canadian Lynx Looks Like Something From Science Fiction

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This is a very short clip but what it lacks in length it makes up for in significance. It shows a rare sighting of a Canada Lynx with an unusually dark coat.

What is even more amazing, is that it was captured in a residential area, casually sitting by some steps before strolling out of shot. It would be safe to say that it has wound up the family dog no end – if the frantic barking is anything to go by.

All About the Canada Lynx

The Canada lynx is usually elusive and avoids contact with humans. They stand around 24 inches in height (up to their shoulders) and are between 32 and 47 inches in length. They are a member of the Felidae family, making them a ‘big cat’ and are about twice as big as a domestic house cat although they weigh more than three times a domestic cat. Their hair is short and their coat can be a mixture of brown, grey, or cream – they often have a silvery appearance because the hairs have a white tip. There are some dark parts to the coat – the tip of the tail is black and the rest of the coat can be marked with darker spots or thin strips. However, it is unusual to see a Lynx with a coat as dark as this.

Canada Lynx Lifestyle

This big cat spends a lot of time in trees waiting to leap down on their prey and their preferred targets are snow hares. This lynx has some unusual anatomical features. They have long legs (the hind legs are longer than the front) and very large feet compared to the rest of their body. This is to distribute their weight and allows them to walk with ease on the top of the snow.

These amazing predators also have distinctive tufts of hair sticking out of the top of their triangular ears. The hairs are sensitive to sound – picking up on the location of predators and prey.

Is it Normal for Canada Lynx to be Around Humans?

Canada lynx lead a solitary lifestyle apart from when mating and when the females raise the young. They cover large areas looking for snow hares. When food is less plentiful, they expand their territories. They spend their time in forests and in weedy areas, grasslands, shrub thickets, and pastures. An ideal location for them is a long way away from humans making this video even more remarkable.  

As mentioned earlier, it is also extremely rare for a Canada lynx to have such a dark coat – another reason to watch this video for a once-in-a-lifetime sight!