Lynx, the "Snowshoe" Cat

The lynx is any of four medium-sized wild cats. The cat is characterized by its long ear tufts and short (bobbed) tail with a black tip. It has unusually large paws that act as snow shoes in very deep snow and its thick fur and long legs make it appear larger than it really is. Lynx live 10-15 years and eat mainly snowshoe hares, but they also eat mice, red squirrels and other small mammals. Generally solitary animals, lynx hunt and travel alone, and are more active at night.

The lynx is endangered, and is protected from all hunting in the U.S., except in Alaska.