On August 17, 2024, a Canada lynx was captured on video in Rutland County, Vermont, marking the first confirmed sighting of the species in the state since 2018. The video, recorded by Gary Shattuck, a retired federal prosecutor, shows the lynx walking along a dirt road near Shattuck’s home in Shrewsbury.
Brehan Furfey, a wildlife biologist with Vermont Fish and Wildlife, emphasized the significance of the sighting due to the Canada lynx’s endangered status in Vermont and their rarity nationally. The video captures the lynx, which appeared thin, prompting Shattuck to question its health. However, Furfey noted that the behavior and appearance of the lynx were typical for a young male dispersing through the area.
The Canada lynx is adapted to hunt snowshoe hares and requires specific habitats with young forests and reliable snowpack to thrive. In Vermont, the most suitable environment for lynx is in the Northeast Kingdom, near the Canadian border. Rutland County, where the lynx was filmed, lacks optimal conditions for both lynx and their prey but does provide well-connected wild landscapes that allow for wildlife movement.
Furfey speculated that the lynx might be a male looking to establish a new territory, a behavior known as dispersing. Such individuals often travel long distances and may not remain in the area. The last confirmed sighting of a Canada lynx in southern Vermont occurred on June 9, 2016, in Londonderry, marking a significant gap until this recent sighting.
Vermont Fish and Wildlife encourages the public to report lynx sightings by providing photos or videos, as most reports received since 2016 have been misidentified bobcats. The department values these reports for tracking the presence of rare species like the Canada lynx.
Armed with a Laptop and a cup of coffee, Rothschild is on a mission to conquer the news world, one headline at a time.