Cats

Lynx canadensis

WHAT: A medium-sized cat with a short tail, long legs, large feet, and ears with 2-inch black hairs. The snowshoe-like feet and long legs help the lynx pursue prey in deep snow.
WHERE: The Canada lynx occurs across much of Canada and Alaska. Its range extends south into the western U.S. mountains, including Washington and the northern parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and New England.
SIZE: Length 2.5 to 3.5 feet; height (at the shoulder) about 1.5 feet; weight 18 to 24 pounds.
EATS: The diet consists predominantly of snowshoe hare (when they are abundant), small mammals, reptiles, invertebrates, and occasionally prey as large as deer.
BABIES: The breeding season extends from March to April. The gestation period is about 2 months. Generally, the female will give birth to 1-8 kittens. At birth, newborns weigh only a few ounces.
STATUS: Threatened.
FUN FACTS: Canada lynx populations depend on the availability of snowshoe hares; a decline in hare numbers leads to fewer lynx, and vice versa. Their large paws help them walk over deep snow like snowshoes. While not built for fast running, lynx effectively ambush or stalk their prey, relying on surprise for a successful capture. 

Lynx rufus

WHAT: A bobcat’s coat can range from light brown to gray or darker gray to black with spots or streaks. The ears have a prominent white spot on the back and a tuft of black hair at the tip. The short tail is black, only on top of the tip. Bobcats often walk with their short tail curled upwards, exposing the white tip on the underside.
WHERE: Most widely distributed native cat in North America.
SIZE: Length 2.5 to 3.5 feet; height (at the shoulder) 1 to 2 feet; weight 15 to 21 pounds.
EATS: The diets consist of small mammals, birds, reptiles, invertebrates, and occasionally, prey as large as deer.
BABIES: The breeding season extends from February through March. The gestation period is about 8 weeks. Generally, the female gives birth to two or three young. At birth, the newborn kittens weigh about ½ pound.
STATUS: Secure.
FUN FACTS: Bobcats are territorial and solitary animals that primarily hunt during the twilight hours or at night. They communicate through various vocalizations that are similar to those of domestic cats. Additionally, bobcats are exceptional climbers and often spend a significant amount of time in trees.

Puma concolor 

WHAT: Male cougars are considerably larger than females and cats from northern latitudes are the largest of the species. Coat color varies from a uniform russet to gray. Cougars have large yellow eyes and a long, heavy tail that aids their balance in leaps and high speed turns.

WHERE: Mountain, desert, and forested areas. Cougars range from Southern Canada, mid-west to the western US, small area in Florida, and down through Central America and into South America to the southern tip of Chile.

SIZE: Length 7 to 9.5 feet; height (at the shoulder) 24 to 35 inches; weight 75 to 200 pounds.

EATS: The diet consists primarily of deer, elk, and a variety of small mammals, birds and reptiles.

BABIES: The breeding season extends from February through March. The gestation period is about 8 weeks. Generally, the female gives birth to two or three young. At birth, the newborn kittens weigh about ½ pound.

STATUS: Secure.

FUN FACTS: Cougars are generally solitary and more often will stalk but sometimes ambush their quarry. The size of their territory is determined by the availability of large prey species (usually deer or elk) and can extend up to 350 square miles or more. The satellite territories of several females will overlap that of a dominant breeding male. They are powerful runners, leapers, and climbers that are adapted to a variety of habitats from the forest to the desert. They are very vocal and produce a variety of screams, growls, mews, hisses and even a purring sound that is similar to but louder than a housecat.