On the Trail of the Canada Lynx in Central Ontario:
The Story of our Week Tracking These Animals
and Other Wildlife of the North Woods.
Alexis Burnett Owner/Instructor,
Earth Tracks Outdoor School,
Durham, Ontario, Canada.
Earth Tracks guided a group of keen wildlife trackers and naturalists in Elk Lake Ontario for a week in January following the tracks and trails of the Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis). This area is known to have a healthy and robust lynx population and we were able to locate multiple different animals during the time we were there.
This experience was open to people of all experience levels and backgrounds and was designed to immerse the participants in an active and engaging tracking community.
We spent our days in the field looking at the tracks and sign left by the local lynx population.
Following their trails for many hours in order to get a better understanding of how this animal relates to the landscape it inhabits as well as learn more about the biology, behaviour and habits of these wild cats. We were able to locate many signs of this animal’s presence including tracks, trails, beds, kill sites, and their relationship to snowshoe hare.
Spending time in the north woods also gave us the opportunity to find tracks and sign of many other animals including moose (Alces alces), wolves (Canis lupus), marten (Martes americana), fisher (Martes pennanti), otter (Lontra canadensis), northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus), snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), and plethora of small mammals among others.
Our nights were spent in warm cabins which afforded us time to do follow-up research on some of our many questions from our time in the field. It was also a time to share our tracking stories of the day with other group members (some days we split into two groups) and other formal and informal evening activities.
Through sharing many meals, time on the land on snowshoes and practicing the art and science of tracking, our group came together forming bonds and friendships that strengthened as the week went on. We created a culture and community of nature enthusiasts and trackers where everyone’s experiences and stories were heard, valued and appreciated. This presentation will share our collective experiences spent on the land and tell the stories of the tracks, sign and trails left by the animals that we followed.