A rare sighting of the endangered Canada lynx took place in Vermont earlier this month, marking the first time this native wild cat has been seen in the state since 2018.
On August 17, a video recorded in Rutland County captured the lynx, believed to be male, walking along the edge of a road. Witnesses noted the animal appeared somewhat thin and exhibited calm behavior despite the passing vehicles.
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department wildlife biologist Brehan Furfey commented that the lynx’s demeanor was typical for an animal on the move to establish its own territory. He indicated that the lynx is likely searching for food in an area where hares, its primary prey, are scarce, while also avoiding competition with other predators like bobcats and fishers.
The behavior of “dispersing” refers to young lynx traveling to find suitable areas for establishing a new home range. Furfey mentioned that such animals can cover large distances swiftly, suggesting that this particular lynx may have already moved on from Vermont.
The sighting is particularly significant given that Canada lynx are listed as endangered in Vermont and nationally threatened. This sighting in Rutland County is noteworthy as it falls outside the typical habitat for these cats, which are often found in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom—an area offering the best climate, habitat, and food for them.
The lynx primarily hunts snowshoe hares, and both species rely on young forest habitats with sufficient snowpack. Furfey explained that the region where the lynx was spotted lacks the ample population of snowshoe hares necessary to support a significant lynx population, making the sighting even more remarkable.
Since 2016, Vermont Fish and Wildlife has received over 160 reports of lynx sightings, but only seven have been confirmed, with the last confirmed sighting occurring in Jericho in 2018. Furfey encourages anyone who thinks they see a lynx to document it with a photo or video and share it with the Fish and Wildlife Department, emphasizing that while many of the reports are bobcats, the possibility of a Canada lynx appearing remains.
The Canada lynx is identifiable by its grizzled gray fur, large paws, long hind legs, distinctive black ear tufts, and short black-tipped tail. These mid-sized carnivores resemble bobcats and can weigh up to 30 pounds. The species has been designated as a distinct population segment and was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2000. In the U.S., they are primarily found in northern Maine, northern New Hampshire, northeastern Minnesota, northwestern Montana, northern Idaho, north-central Washington, and western Colorado.