Canada Lynx Male Skull measures 5.1 inches. Canada Lynx Male Skull is museum quality polyurethane cast. Species L. canadensis
The Canada lynx preys primarily on the snowshoe hare. These hares comprise 35–97% of their diet; the proportion varies by the season and the abundance of hares.
When the hare’s numbers drop, Canada lynxes will include other animals in their diet such as ducks, grouse, moles, ptarmigan, American red squirrels, voles and young ungulates (Dall’s sheep, mule deer and boreal woodland caribou).
Although snowshoe hares continue to be the primary component. The Canada lynx tends to be less selective in summer and autumn, adding small mammals to their diet besides the hare. The reason behind this is unclear—it could be due to a greater abundance of alternate prey, or reduced success in hunting hares.
A study in Alaska found that lynxes played a role in the decrease in populations of red fox, Caribou and Dall’s sheep when hares were very low in number. They have also been reported feeding occasionally on succulents, sedges and grasses. Canada lynxes ingest 1.3–2.6 lb. of food daily.
Canada lynx hunt around twilight or at night, the time when snowshoe hares tend to be active. They rely on their vision and sense of hearing to locate prey. The lynx will roam or wait (in what researchers often term “ambush beds”) on certain trails that snowshoe hares frequent, pounce on a hare and kill it by a bite on its head, throat or the nape of its neck.
Sometimes a chase of up to several bounds may be necessary to trap the prey. The Canada lynx is assisted by its stereoscopic vision in detecting prey and measuring distances.
Staying in cover while hunting helps the lynx conserve energy in its frigid habitat by avoiding unnecessary movement. Young ungulates are given a throat bite to suffocate them to death.
The Canada lynx may eat its kill immediately or cache it in snow or leaves to eat it over the next few days.
Studies suggest success in hunting hares depends heavily on the distance between the lynx and the hare when the lynx begins chasing it and their relative speeds, which in turn depends on the hunting prowess of the Canada lynx, the alertness of the hare and the vegetation cover among other factors.
Canada lynxes will occasionally hunt together, though studies differ on how this affects the success rate compared to hunting solo. These lynxes may hunt in groups when hares are scarce. Scavenging is common; they will take ungulates killed by the cold or vehicles.