Grey Ghost of the North

This photo is of a Canadian Lynx (Lynx canadensis) taken by our good friend Richard Glover just a few days ago. The lynx is ordinarily an elusive, solitary cat that lives in the boreal forest and hunts by stealth in the early morning and at dusk. This one however has been a regular daytime visitor to the Kitwanga, British Columbia area and seems unbothered by human activity according to Richard. They are ordinarily secretive, elusive and avoid human contact and have been called the “grey ghost of the north.” The Canada lynx has also been called one of the most beautiful animals of the boreal forest, the world's northernmost forest. Unfortunately it has seen its habitat shrinking as global warming causes the forest to retreat ever northward. Logging has also damaged much of its habitat. Evidently their status as an endangered species is currently under review in the U.S., but their listing is being opposed by the forestry industry.

... Bob