Presence and Distribution of Lynx in Yellowstone National Park

Little is known about Canada lynx in Yellowstone National Park, except that the species was present at the park’s inception in 1872 and may have persisted to this day. The lack of basic information in the park and this species’ listing as threatened in the contiguous U.S. by the Fish and Wildlife Service in 2000 prompted a survey of lynx presence and distribution from 2001 to 2004. Researchers traversed transects looking for tracks during winter and used hair snares in summer to detect lynx. Using DNA extracted from hair or fecal samples, researchers confirmed the presence of a female (unknown age), an adult female with a male kitten, and an adult male, each in a different year in the eastern portion of the park. Eight other unconfirmed lynx snow trails were also identified, including three from the central portion. Cumulatively, the detections represented at least three individual lynx, including two kittens born in different years. A male identified in Yellowstone in 2004 was detected 76 km south in Bridger-Teton National Forest in 2005, demonstrating that significant movement of lynx occurs within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Reproduction documented in this and other studies, in addition to immigrants from peripheral populations, may contribute to lynx presence in the ecosystem.   Updated 6/24/08