William Grooms documents Canada lynx in northern New Mexico
PhD student William Grooms found photographic proof of a rare Canada lynx while surveying wildlife in the Carson National Forest of northern New Mexico this past summer.
Student reviews motion-sensing camera images
Grooms spent the summer collecting photos to study how forest structure affects biodiversity. While looking at his first set of pictures, he noticed an animal hidden among squirrels and rabbits. He initially did not believe what he saw because the species is so uncommon in this area.
Experts confirm the identification
The team sent the photos to specialists who verified that the animal was indeed a lynx. Grooms expressed confidence that there is no question about the identity of the cat. Jennifer Frey, his adviser, noted that these cats usually live in dense boreal forests across Canada and Alaska.
Species last seen recently
This sighting represents a significant find because experts had not documented the animal in New Mexico for about twenty-five years. The cat weighs up to twenty pounds and closely resembles a bobcat but has different adaptations. Researchers are now continuing to review all the images they captured during this field season.
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