Actions

DNR confirms wild cat caught on camera in Michigan was a lynx

Posted at 3:30 PM, Feb 20, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-28 15:36:36-05

The Michigan DNR has confirmed that a large wild cat caught on camera roaming in the backyard of a Lexington family’s home was indeed a lynx.

Monique Touchette-Soper posted video that her son shot of the lynx several weeks ago. Initially, DNR specialists who saw the video believed the animal was a lynx and not a bobcat, but have now positively confirmed.

The DNR said they cannot verify how the lynx got to Lexington and whether it was traveling on its own or an escaped captive animal.

The differences between a bobcat and lynx are subtle: a lynx is smaller and has black coloring on the end of the tail and tips of the ears, the tail is short and stubby and long black ear tufts.

Lynx are protected species in Michigan and sightings are extremely rare.