lynx

Wild cat found in rocky and forested regions of North America and Europe. About 1 m/3 ft in length, it has a short tail, tufted ears, and long, silky fur which is reddish brown or grey with dark spots. The North American bobcat or bay lynx (Felix rufus) looks similar but is smaller. Some zoologists place the lynx, the bobcat, and the caracal in a separate genus, Lynx. (Species Felis lynx, family Felidae.)

Lynxes are nocturnal and solitary and need a large range, but the size of the range varies depending on the population size of the prey animal, from 300 sq km/115 sq mi to up to 1,900 sq km/734 sq mi. They feed mainly on small deer but are capable of killing prey much larger than themselves. Lynxes do not have dens, but mothers place cubs under a tree or close to rocks. Gestation lasts 9-10 weeks and litters contain 1-4 cubs. They reach independence at around 10 months and usually live for 10-15 years. In August 2001, it was estimated that there were only 500 Iberian lynxes left in the wild. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified this species as the world's most endangered cat.

Lynx were introduced back in Colorado in 1999, for the first time in 25 years.