Report Lynx Sighting
Have you seen a Lynx?
The lynx is a medium-sized wildcat that lives in North America and Eurasia. Lynx may have disappeared from Colorado by about 1973. Sightings prior to that time were few, scattered throughout mountainous areas of the state.
Make a Positive Identification
Species Comparison
Colorado is a wonderful place full of many species that can sometimes be tricky to tell apart. Take a moment to review the information below to help confirm if you've spotted an otter, and then feel free to share your sighting information!
Lynx
Bobcat
Lynx
Physical Characteristics
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Tip of tail black on top and bottom, as if dipped in a jar of ink
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Hips higher than shoulders when standing on a flat surface due to longer back legs
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Paws relatively larger, with fur underneath
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Less spotting on coat and legs
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Long ear tufts and beard. White spot on ears covers more of ear with less contrast
Bobcat
Physical Characteristics
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Tip of tail white underneath and black on top
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Shoulders and hips much more level when standing on a flat surface
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Normal-sized paws
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More spotting on coat than lynx; spots and stripes on the sides of legs. Short ear tufts and beard
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Stark white triangle shape on backs of ears
Why Report Your Sighting?
If you observe wildlife, this information could be incredibly valuable to CPW. Wildlife observations by members of the public, and private landowners in particular, can help inform wildlife management in Colorado. You may be concerned that reporting wildlife activity will compromise your privacy, or may make species location information widely available, but there are laws in place to protect your privacy and to protect species location information from public disclosure if you choose to share this information with CPW. While the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) makes many government records public, there are exceptions to CORA that protect your personal information, information about private property, and animal location data.