The Legacy of Canada lynx “GLNR-S-571” on the Superior National Forest
Nov 02, 2024 05:41AM ● By Content EditorThe future of Canada lynx in Northeast Minnesota: Two lynx kittens huddle together with their mother nearby on a cold winter morning. USDA Forest Service image by Ryan Pennesi
From USDA Forest Service - November 2, 2024
Early last spring a Canada lynx carcass was discovered on the edge of a Superior National Forest (NF) road by Superior NF volunteer, Gary Olson. Little remained of the carcass except some hair and most of the skeleton (the skull was missing). Through detective work, Superior NF wildlife staff were able to figure out the cat’s identity. A sample of the hair from a front paw was sent to the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation. The DNA results told us ‘she’ was GLNR-S-571, aka “The Trappers Lake Female.”
From 2014 to 2024, Superior NF wildlife staff and volunteers collected 27 scats (lynx feces) from this individual spanning an area of about 71 square miles. GLNR-S-571 was a female kitten born in the Isabella, Minnesota area in 2013 making this lynx 11 years old at the time of her death! Her breeding territory over the years spanned from Isabella to 12 mi northwest and 13 miles northeast.
Carcass of GLNR-S-571. USDA Forest Service image by Gary Olson
She was old enough that her end could have been natural causes; but due to the advanced state of decay we cannot rule out a vehicle collision, predation, or other possible causes of mortality. She had many litters of kittens through the years. Through DNA analysis, there is a high level of confidence that GLNR-S-571 had offspring with her each year from 2019 to 2024 (at least 10 individuals), and it is highly likely that she had other litters prior to 2019 that were not detected. The team is hopeful that she will be survived by them and will be looking to detect those kittens in the coming monitoring seasons.
Another impressive lynx on the Superior NF is GLNR-S-551. She is now the oldest lynx in our database at 11 years old (first detection in 2013) and she also appeared to have a family of kittens last winter. She resides in the Isabella area as well.
“Canada lynx GLNR-S-571 is one of only 3 out of 538 lynx in our DNA database to be older than 8 years of age. 551 is one of those 3. Both 571 and 551 were found last winter and were known to be 11 years of age and both had kittens last winter. Generally, if they make it past being a kitten and figure out how to provide for themselves, their survival rate is pretty good.” – Dan Ryan, Superior NF Wildlife Biologist.
What’s Next?
The future of lynx in Minnesota is uncertain; however, the Superior National Forest continues to engage with partners in seeking ways to benefit the species. Canada lynx are listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Read more about Canada lynx monitoring on the Superior NF Canada Lynx DNA Report, as well as the overall Wildlife Program at (https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/superior/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=stelprdb5209798).
Please report all sightings of Canada lynx directly to one of our offices (add hyperlink here) or via our partner MN Department of Natural Resources reporting system (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/nhnrp/lynx_sightings.html)
For general information on Canada lynx, visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources page: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mammals/canadalynx.html, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s page: https://www.fws.gov/species/canada-lynx-lynx-canadensis