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A rare Canada lynx that was first spotted in Rutland County is continuing to be observed in other parts of the state as it travels north. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department says the first confirmed sighting was captured this past August, and the most recent was in Addison County.According to Fish & Wildlife’s furbearer project leader, Brehan Furfey, the large cat has not been seen in the state in years. “All of a sudden, we’re starting to see one that is being seen very often, I would say, over the course of the last 45 days or so,” she said. According to Fish & Wildlife, the young lynx has been traveling a couple dozen miles at a time and then staying in the same area for several days before moving on. Furfey said Canada lynx tend to prey on snowshoe hares, which are further north.”The fact that it’s moving further north is a good thing because there is better snowshoe hare habitat there, and I would expect that to continue to move north,” she said. “Whether or not it stays in Vermont is to be seen.”Currently, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has confirmed 16 photos and videos showing the lynx, which they believe is the same animal. However, other photos sent to the agency have depicted a bobcat, as opposed to the rare animal.Furrfey said Canada lynx have a hunched back, large feet and a black tail all the way around. Bobcats, on the other hand, weigh less and have white on their tails underneath with a black tip. Shrewsbury Town Clerk Rebecca Rice said she saw what she believes was the lynx on her farm around the time the first sightings were being reported. “We quietly walked down the driveway and watched the lynx catch a rabbit, and it then took it under the brush and the side of the field and proceeded to eat it,” Rice said. “We were far, way away, but he certainly didn’t mind us watching him.”Fish & Wildlife said the Canada lynx is a federally threatened species, and added that anyone who sees it should give the animal a respectful amount of space.
A rare Canada lynx that was first spotted in Rutland County is continuing to be observed in other parts of the state as it travels north. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department says the first confirmed sighting was captured this past August, and the most recent was in Addison County.
According to Fish & Wildlife’s furbearer project leader, Brehan Furfey, the large cat has not been seen in the state in years.
“All of a sudden, we’re starting to see one that is being seen very often, I would say, over the course of the last 45 days or so,” she said.
According to Fish & Wildlife, the young lynx has been traveling a couple dozen miles at a time and then staying in the same area for several days before moving on. Furfey said Canada lynx tend to prey on snowshoe hares, which are further north.
“The fact that it’s moving further north is a good thing because there is better snowshoe hare habitat there, and I would expect that to continue to move north,” she said. “Whether or not it stays in Vermont is to be seen.”
Currently, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has confirmed 16 photos and videos showing the lynx, which they believe is the same animal. However, other photos sent to the agency have depicted a bobcat, as opposed to the rare animal.
Furrfey said Canada lynx have a hunched back, large feet and a black tail all the way around. Bobcats, on the other hand, weigh less and have white on their tails underneath with a black tip.
Shrewsbury Town Clerk Rebecca Rice said she saw what she believes was the lynx on her farm around the time the first sightings were being reported.
“We quietly walked down the driveway and watched the lynx catch a rabbit, and it then took it under the brush and the side of the field and proceeded to eat it,” Rice said. “We were far, way away, but he certainly didn’t mind us watching him.”
Fish & Wildlife said the Canada lynx is a federally threatened species, and added that anyone who sees it should give the animal a respectful amount of space.
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