Wildlife

Canada Lynx Welfare and Snowshoe Hare Cycles

Canada lynx welfare is profoundly shaped by boom-bust cycles of their primary prey, the snowshoe hare, causing cyclical starvation stress.

Key Facts

Lynx populations track snowshoe hare cycles with a 10-year periodicity
During hare crashes, lynx experience severe food shortages and starvation
Lynx are caught in traps intended for other species causing bycatch mortality
Climate change is altering snowpack reducing lynx hunting effectiveness
Lynx are listed as threatened in the contiguous United States

Welfare Considerations

During hare cycle lows, lynx experience prolonged starvation causing suffering across entire regional populations. Kittens are most vulnerable, with high mortality during hare crashes. Bycatch in traps set for other species causes injuries and deaths. Climate-driven snowpack decline reduces the soft-snow advantage lynx have over other predators, reducing hunting efficiency.

What You Can Do

Support snowshoe hare habitat management to moderate population crashes
Advocate for mandatory trap checks that reduce bycatch suffering
Donate to Canada lynx research and population monitoring
Support climate policies protecting boreal and subalpine snowpack
Oppose trapping in areas with small or recovering lynx populations