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BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report

Lynx canadensis
Canada Lynx

 
Scientific Name: Lynx canadensis
English Name: Canada Lynx
English Name Synonyms: Canadian Lynx
   
Provincial Status Summary
Status: S5
Date Status Assigned: April 27, 2015
Date Last Reviewed: March 14, 2025
Reasons: Lynx are widespread and relatively common across B.C. with low threats.
 
Range
Range Extent: G = 200,000-2,500,000 square km
Range Extent Estimate (km2): 744,664
Range Extent Comments: Lynx are found throughout forested areas of British Columbia, primarily east of the Coast Mountains, and are absent from the wet coastal forests and islands. They are most commonly found in the northern half of the province (Hatler et al. 2008; Gooliaff 2018; GBIF, accessed 20 February 2025).
Area of Occupancy (km2): U = Unknown
 
Occurrences & Population
Number of Occurrences: DE = 81 to >300
Comments: The exact numbers are unknown and would be difficult to define with extremely variable home ranges between animals and years of snowshoe hare density. Poole (2003) report between 8 and 738 km2 home ranges. Even with that variability, given the range extent, there will likely be greater than 300 occurrences.
Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: Rank Factor not assessed
Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: Rank Factor not assessed
Population Size: FG = 10,000 - 1,000,000 individuals
Comments: Lynx populations exhibit distinct and dramatic cycles, and are tied to population cycles of Snowshoe Hares. Provincial estimates range between 20,000 at the lowest lows and 240,000 during the highest peak, although these figures are very rough and difficult to validate (Hatler et al. 2008).


The BC Furbearer Management Guidelines (2003) state that, "Determining actual population numbers is difficult, and has been attempted only for relatively small study areas. Densities of 30 to 45 lynx per 100 km2 have been documented in optimal, postfire habitats in the north during cyclic highs, while peak densities in older forest habitats and those farther south are lower, at about 8 to 20 lynx per 100 km2 . Densities typically drop to below three lynx per 100 km2 in all areas during the low phase, and in what may be ?marginal? habitats in the extreme southern portions of the animal?s range. In British Columbia, the highest numbers are attained in the boreal and sub-boreal forests in the inland northern half of the province".
 
Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected)
Degree of Threat: D = Low
Comments: Lynx often use coarse woody debris for denning sites which may be impacted by large-scale Mountain Pine Beetle salvage logging and harvesting for biofuel production. Trapping is ongoing, but take is not large and is managed to minimize numbers taken during low population cycles.
 
Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences)
Short-Term Trend: U = Unknown
Comments: Likely stable. Poole (2003) indicated that there is no evidence to suggest that lynx numbers across most of Canada are declining.
Long-Term Trend: FG = Decline of <30% to relatively stable
Comments: The range extent of Lynx throughout BC appears to have remained stable over the past century and has not changed since at least 1983; the range in central BC has not changed since at least 1935 (Gooliaff 2018).
 
Other Factors
Intrinsic Vulnerability: BC=Moderately vulnerable to not intrinsically vulnerable.
Environmental Specificity: C=Moderate. Generalist or community with some key requirements scarce.
Other Rank Considerations:
 
Information Gaps
Research Needs:
Inventory Needs:
 
Stewardship
Protection:
Management:
 
Version
Author: Ramsay, L. (2025), Nagorsen, D. and L. Ramsay (2015), Teucher, A. (2010)
Date: February 20, 2025
 
References

GBIF.org. 2025u. GBIF. Occurrence download for Lynx canadensis Accessed 20 February 2025.
Gooliaff, T. 2018. Spatiotemporal patterns and reliability of bobcat and Canada lynx occurrence records in British Columbia (T). University of British Columbia.
Hatler, D.F., Nagorsen, D.W. and Beal, A.M., 2008. Carnivores of British Columbia (Vol. 5). Victoria, British Columbia, Canada: Royal BC Museum.
Poole, K.G., 2003. A review of the Canada lynx, Lynx canadensis, in Canada. The Canadian Field-Naturalist, 117(3), pp.360-376.
 

Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for information on how the CDC determines conservation status ranks. For global conservation status reports and ranks, please visit the NatureServe website http://www.natureserve.org/.

Suggested Citation:

B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2025. Conservation Status Report: Lynx canadensis. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Apr 17, 2026).