A group of lynx in northwestern Ontario unintentionally created a social media buzz on New Year’s Day when they were spotted crossing a road by Const. Zack Stubbington of the Armstrong OPP. The lynx family, consisting of an adult and three kittens, caught Stubbington’s attention, with the total count reaching five animals.
The video capturing this rare sighting was shared on social media and quickly gained widespread attention. Lynx populations in Canada are known to fluctuate in a 10-year cycle based on food availability, as explained by Brian McLaren, an associate professor at Lakehead University. McLaren highlighted that lynx kittens typically stay with their mothers for about 10 months, making it unusual to spot a second adult with a family. The fifth lynx seen in the video may have been a female from a previous litter, McLaren speculated, emphasizing that male lynx are solitary creatures.
In an interview, Stubbington mentioned that although he frequently records wildlife sightings, this particular video received an unexpected level of interest. His passion for the outdoors and the thrill of encountering wildlife were significant factors that led him to pursue a career in northern Ontario. Stubbington encouraged outdoor enthusiasts interested in a career with the OPP to consider opportunities in the northern regions for unique wildlife encounters.
