‘It’s great’: Video of lynx captured in northwestern Ontario attracts attention
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Why did the lynx cross the road?
It may not have been their intention, but for a group of animals caught on video in northwestern Ontario on New Year’s Day, the answer might have been to launch their social media moment.
Const. Jack Stubbington of Armstrong OPP was on patrol when he saw a group of lynxes, including an adult and three kittens, crossing the road.
In the video, Stubbington can be heard counting a total of five animals.
“Oh my God, this is crazy!” He comments. “that is so cool.”
The video was posted on social media and has since been shared widely.
Lynx populations in Canada fluctuate and increase in 10-year cycles depending on food supply, said Brian MacLaren, associate professor at Lakehead University.Faculty of Natural Resource Management.
When food is abundant, the population will be greater, and animal sightings may also be greater.
Lynx kittens stay with their mothers for about 10 months, MacLaren said. It’s less common to see another adult in a family, he said. It is speculated that the fifth lynx seen may be a female from a previous litter.
“Male cats are very solitary,” he said.
In an interview with CBC News on Wednesday, Stubbington said he often records wildlife sightings, but this is the first time a video he took has received so much attention.
He said his love of the outdoors and the opportunity to see wildlife was a big inspiration for pursuing a career in Northern Ontario.
“So if anyone is considering a career with the OPP and is an outdoor enthusiast, I would suggest looking north,” he said.
