Nuka’s Annual Checkup

Nuka, the female Canada lynx at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, recently had her annual wellness exam. With her thick, speckled fur, large paws built for stalking prey on snow, and distinctive black-tufted ears, Nuka is a striking representation of her species.

Northwest Trek’s veterinary team gave Nuka a thorough checkup during her exam, ensuring her health and well-being.

They cleaned her teeth and ears, trimmed her nails, took X-rays, and gave her vital vaccinations.

Staff also put socks on Nuka’s paws to keep her warm while she was sedated.

Nuka shares her habitat with Omak, a male lynx. The duo aren’t a breeding pair but often engage in playful antics, chasing each other around their shared habitat. Nuka is known for her fascination with stalking. She often follows the keepers as they work, hiding behind trees and observing them keenly. Her curiosity isn’t limited to the keepers; Nuka also enjoys watching other animals and has a particular fondness for birds, often attempting to stalk them.

Canada lynx are endangered in Washington. According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, it’s estimated that between 50 and 100 Canada lynx currently live in Washington, primarily in the North Cascades, Kettle River Mountain Range, and Selkirk Mountains. The primary threats to lynx include their small population size, habitat loss and fragmentation due to large wildfires, and climate change. To support the species’ recovery, trapping of lynx has been banned in Washington since 1991, and forest management practices, such as fire suppression, are implemented to protect crucial habitats.