Lynx avoidance [PDF] - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Identifying Characteristics andBackground InformationDescriptionLynx (Lynx canadensis) and bobcats (Lynx rufus) aremedium-sized wild cats. Adult males are usuallylarger than females in both species. Lynx weightsaverage 24 pounds for males and 20 pounds forfemales. Bobcat weights average 26 pounds for malesand 15 pounds for females. Average lengths (fromnose to tip of tail) are very similar for lynx andbobcats: 34 inches for males of both species, 32inches for female lynx, and 31 inches for femalebobcats.Bobcat pelts may be light gray, yellowish brown, buff,brown, or reddish brown and streaked or spotted withblack or dark brown. Under portions of the body arewhite with black spots and with black bars on the forelegs. Lynx generally have more gray and less red intheir pelts than bobcats and the belly fur is grayishwhiteor buff-white with mottled, indistinct blackspots.Lynx have ear tufts and facial ruffs on their cheeksthat are larger and more conspicuous than those onbobcats. Ear tufts are usually longer than 1 inch onlynx but shorter than 1 inch on bobcats. Bobcat andlynx tails are approximately 4–6 inches long andmatch their pelt color except for the tip (about the lastinch). The tip of the tail on bobcats is usually blackonly on the upper side whereas on lynx the entire tipis black.6