The Canada lynx is only slightly larger than the bobcat. Nevertheless, long legs and long fur produce the illusion that the lynx is considerably larger than it actually is.

Documented accounts of wild lynx are rare and lynx are not expected to currently reside in Oregon. However, if lynx were to be observed, it is likely to occur at higher elevations such as in the Cascade Range, Blue Mountains or Wallowa Mountains. Habitats used by lynx often are defined in terms of habitats used by their primary prey species, thus good snowshoe hare habitat usually is considered to be good lynx habitat. Lynxes commonly occur at altitudes and latitudes at which snow cover is deep in winter. 

There are five toes on the forefeet and four on the hind feet; the heel pad is unlobed. The feet are broad and the load/unit surface area is low, thereby permitting the lynx to traverse deep snow easily. Lynxes are grizzled grayish brown in winter, but more reddish brown in summer. The undersides and legs are buffy white; the ears are brown with a white spot and long black tufts; the face is marked with white and the throat is white; and a black tip completely encircles the tail.

Although adult lynxes usually are considered to be solitary, two to four have been known to travel together, usually in single file, but in good snowshoe hare habitat the lynxes would fan out and appeared to hunt cooperatively. They are more active at night than during the day and usually bed in the snow at the sight of a kill, use another bed for midday resting, and sometimes use another bed either at a second kill or for another midday rest. On clear days, lynxes often bed at the base of large trees on south slopes to take advantage of solar heat, but on stormy days they seek shelter.

Photo from ODFW