Lynx prefer living in coniferous forests. (A coniferous forest is one made up primarily of cone-bearing trees, like pines, spruces, firs, and larches.) Lynx like forests with many different sized trees and a thick understory. (Understory is the vegetation or plant-life on the forest floor.) This type of habitat is also ideal for their preferred prey species—the snowshoe hare.
Lynx are, however, very adaptable and can live in rocky areas, open forest, scrub brush—even dunes.
Canada lynx prey mostly on snowshoe hare. Scientists estimate that snowshoe hares make up about 80% of their diet. However, when hares are scarce they will prey on grouse, ptarmigan, pine squirrels, marmots, mice, ground squirrels, beaver, muskrat, and other small animals and birds. Lynx occasionally eat deer, elk, and even moose when they can kill a calf or fawn. They also scavenge and will eat carrion. (Carrion (kar-ee-un) is meat from animals that died of other causes, like old age, disease, accidents, or other predators.)
Lynx are good runners and climbers. However, they usually hunt on the ground. Lynx rest (or bed) under ledges, tree, or in caves. In bad weather they may bed under thick spruce trees.
Lynx stalk their prey alone. They will occasionally hunt cooperatively with other lynx. They may also ambush their prey, as a mountain lion does.
A lynx indicates its mood using it's long, black ear tufts. Most cats display their moods by moving their tails. A lynx’s tail is just too short!