Tracking the Elusive Lynx Across Alaska and Canada
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Snowshoe hare populations fluctuate over a period of several years and are thought to send the cats on migration routes in what’s known as the “travelling wave” theory. In a changing boreal region, scientists want to know where and how lynx move across the landscape to better understand how the larger system is connected. Researchers engaged in this collaborative international study are placing satellite tracking collars on cats to better understand the dynamics across the region. This project involves collaboration with local trappers and the study of isotopes in the cats’ teeth that can provide additional clues about lynx movement.
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Male lynx released at the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge study site in March 2017. Photo: Derek Arnold
The path of a male lynx who traveled east from Alaska through the Yukon and Northwest Territories. Image: Knut Keilland
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