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Threatened
Species
Lynx are well-suited to living in snow: large, furry feet serve as snowshoes;
long legs help them stay above drifts; and extra-thick fur keeps them warm
and silent. They usually stalk their prey within a few bounds but will wait in
ambush for hours. Minnesota used to have a large population, but numbers
have dropped. They are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species
Act.
Description: Head and body length: 76-100 cm (30-40 in);
tail: 10-16.5 cm (4-6.5 in); shoulder height: 57-61 cm (20-24
in); weight: 5.4-11.3 kg (12-24 lbs); short bodies, long heavy
legs; long, broad, furred feet to adapt them for walking on snow;
vertical pupil; long soft fur, especially on lower cheeks and
around neck; body color is grizzled buff grey, mixed with buff
to pale brown, underparts pale (grayish white - grayish buff);
summer pelage is more brown; prominent ear tufts; black-tipped
tail; males larger than females; lynxes average larger than bobcats.
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