The Superior National Forest is home to many animals. Some are shy like the wolves, while others are playful like the chipmunks. Most visitors would love to see a moose, wolf, or bear in their natural habitat while vacationing, but a lynx is a much more coveted sighting for me.
While enroute to pick up my customers at Gunflint Lodge this morning, I was blessed with a rare glimpse of three lynx kittens that were playing in the Gunflint Trail. The playful trio quickly disappeared into the woods as I approached the South Gunflint Lake Road.
They are the correct size to be last year’s kittens and are likely to still be with their mother, who I did not see. Lynx mate in late winter and birth 70 days later, in early spring, with one to four kittens per litter. Mothers will protect them through their first year before leaving them to fend for themselves.
Adult lynx are cautious without acting nervous when spotted by humans, and sometimes appear to be watching us as closely as we watch them. A young female lynx was hanging around the Gunflint Pines resort area a couple of winters ago and became so conditioned to the occasional vehicle that she stopped hiding from me each day as I passed. I would stop with the window down a few feet away while admiring her stout body and thick winter hair from the safety of my vehicle.
After a few encounters with the lynx, I felt confident enough to get out of my truck to see how she would react. I calmly inched my way close enough to reach out to her with my hand turned to the ground, in attempt to show submission. It did not seem as foolish then as it sounds now, but luckily nothing bad happened. She gave me a short hiss and an annoyed look as she walked into the forest.
Lynx that are spotted along the Gunflint Trail are of the Canadian lynx species and are sometimes mistaken for bobcats, which are also seen in this territory. Canadian lynx prefer to hunt snowshoe hares in the winter months, although not exclusively, and have an advantage catching them in the snow with their large round paws. They are known for being versatile hunters during the warmer months and are able to catch fox, white tail deer, grouse, mice, and even fish.
If fishing doesn’t improve this winter, I might have to start blaming the lynx.
Cory Christianson has worked as a fishing guide on the Gunflint Trail since 2000. If you have any fishing or wildlife reports or stories to share, send an email to: christiansoncory@hotmail.com or call 218- 388-0315. You can also visit Cory’s website at Gunflintfishingguide.com.
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