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How much of a Canada lynx's diet consists of snowshoe hares?
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lynx
Also known as the Spanish lynx or the Pardel lynx, the species bears a strong resemblance to the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), but it may be distinguished by its smaller size; short, dark-tipped tail; and the presence of long, white, beardlike fur under its chin.
The snowshoe hare is the primary prey of the Canada lynx, accounting for 35 to 100 percent of its diet. To meet its daily energy requirements, a lynx typically needs to consume between 0.4 and 0.5 snowshoe hares per day.12
When populations of snowshoe hares decline, the lynx may diversify its diet by preying on birds—such as ruffed grouse, ducks, sparrows, and ptarmigans—as well as smaller mammals like squirrels, mice, shrews, voles, porcupines, beavers, and muskrats. In times of extreme scarcity, they may also hunt larger animals or feed on carrion.12