WASHBURN, Maine — One of the challenges of wildlife photography is that subjects rarely stay still — but Director of Aroostook County Tourism Leslie Jackson didn’t have that problem at all when she came across an easy-going Canada lynx on July 15.
While taking a Sunday drive, Jackson spotted the normally elusive cat near the Washburn/Caribou line on Route 164, lounging in the shade about 30 to 40 feet off the road.
“We stopped and luckily I had my camera with me; I took seven or eight shots and we watched it for about five minutes — it had no concerns at all that we were there,” Jackson said.
To confirm the species, Jackson sent the photo along to Richard Hoppe, regional biologist at the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife office in Ashland.
“Definitely a lynx, nice picture with the cat seemingly not having a care in the world on this hot day,” Hoppe wrote to Jackson.
He told Jackson that the sighting would be documented to the site record and added that they had noted lynx tracks around the Carson Road.
Lynx are a federally threatened species.
According to the DIF&W website, adult males average about 33.5 inches long and weigh between 26 and 30 pounds; females are about 32 inches long and average 19 pounds.
Additional information regarding the Canada lynx can be found by visiting www.maine.gov/ifw/
What a beautiful animal. I hope he is left alone and can live in peace.
How lucky is that?
WOW! Thank you for sharing Leslie. Gonna keep my eyes open. Got to see one in the Allagash a couple of hunting seasons ago, but not nearly as close. :-) Thanks again!
Absolutely beautiful animal. Hope some knucklehead doesn’t kill it and skin it.
Unfortunately trapping/hunting lynx at this time is illegal but hopefully in the near future we’ll be able to harvest them too. I agree, they are quite beautiful!
They are so beautiful that we should trap, hunt, and kill them?
I guess they’re not that beautiful, eh?
A good hunter learns and respects the intelligence, keen senses, and beauty of an animal that he hunts and learns to tune in to the patterns of the animal. A good hunter must think like the animal he hunts. In doing so a great amount of respect is realized by the hunter for then animal he is stalking. A good hunter gives thanks for the bounty that his prey provides. A good hunter has direct interest in sustaining healthy populations of the animals which provide him his livelihood, food, enjoyment. A good hunt provides a lifetime of memories full of healthy activity. A hunter pays fees which are dedicated to wildlife management and conservation. Much more than the self-interested environmental lobby which merely sucks up federal and state dollars via lawsuits and litigation; upsetting the decisions of qualified wildlife professionals (funded by taxes on hunters and fisherman). Meanwhile, the hunter experiences the weather and raw natural environment and learns the things we are quickly forgetting in our society. They are indeed beautiful, what better way to learn respect for wildlife than to get out in the woods with them?
Hunting certainly is a skill and most hunters respect woods and wildlife, I agree. But, I’ve spent a lot of time in the woods, and although I’ve seen bobcat, which are scarce enough, I have never seen a lynx although I would love to. Personally, I hope they are not legal to hunt or trap anytime soon.
When you got to the part about environmentalists you lost me. If it were not for environmentalists there would be no more eagles, bluebirds, herons, peregrine falcons, lynx, wolves, elephants, tigers, chimps, gorillas, whales to name a few. Now it seems that if we don’t do something quickly we will all go the way of the dodo.
How does one “learn respect for wildlife” by killing it? If you’re hungry or cold, I understand the hunt and the take…but, if you want enjoyment go to the movies or take a hike…or, you could also hunt down an animal with a camera.
It’s illegal because they’re endangered. Until their population rebounds feel free to shoot a deer instead. :)
Beautiful.
Close the county down today.
Second-best post ever
What an extremely rare pose and beautiful picture. Thanks for sharing!
typo
A State biologists would tell us:
“this is a house-cat”! Your eyes are playing tricks on you; his tail fell off in a terrible I-95 state trooper accident; that is actually a mole hole seen next to where the tail would be; his ears and chin hairs are odd but it is just the shadow lighting cause by the tree.
Nice picture!
It’s not a cougar dude, people actually believe that Lynx are here. Though I’m sure many people call Bobcats Lynx not knowing any better.
Beautiful animal relaxing on a hot summer day.
I love it!! WONDERFUL pic!! Thank you!
Good photo.
Lastest news, Federal Gov. to remove all residents in Washburn/ Caribou area because of the Lynx. Greenies push to have the whole of Aroostook County preserved as a Federal Sanctuary.
Best post ever man
Most of us are hoping you’re part of that removal, Bruce.
Sorry to disappoint you, I am on the line.
Beautiful photo, just one of those right place right time shots!
I’ve seen several outside of Lincoln. They are even more beautiful up close.
Beautiful cat………I hope I see it on Friday when I’m heading to Washburn on that road……
Nice kitty
nice kitty
So are Maine lynx now going to be given the respect and care we give to our national bird, the bald eagle? Or are lynx going to be treated like vermin scum caught in coyote snares? It’s one or the other. I cannot figure out if the BDN can figure this out for themselves. It seems a no brainer.
How has the wise use of a renewable natual resource turned into “treated like vermin scum”?
Keep wearing your oil based fabrics and eating your store bought meats while proclaiming your greenness. hypocrite
to Bangor2011, and why would we want to harvest them? There is no need to harvest everything just because we can….Leave nature alone and let it live in peace
Gorgeous photo!!
That should read Washburn/Woodland line, That cat crossed the road right in front of me.
Can’t be a Canada lynx. It didn’t have 4 jugs of milk with it.
I’ld like to bring him home with me. Is he still there?
Gorgeous animal!