Another Lynx Sighting Exit 17 I-93

[Waumbek]

This is from Bob Washburn's column in Sunday's Concord Monitor. Exit 17 is in Boscawen, several exits north of Concord. I wouldn't make the lynx call myself on the basis of weight alone. Some bobcats go up to 40 lbs. I assume the DOT workers recognized other characteristics of lynx. Apparently no one has checked for tracks--or there's been too much recent snow to find them now. This might be a good place for (sub)urban tracking some day after work.


[start quote]Another lynx sighting
February 12. 2006 8:00AM

I received some interesting feedback on my lynx column. It seems that several N.H. DOT workers have been seeing a lynx around exit 17 on I-93. The lynx tops the scales at 40 pounds and a male bobcat will top out at 25 pounds. If it were true, this would be the southernmost activity of the lynx.

Given the shortage of rabbits and hares in this part of the state, both the lynx and bobcat have a challenging time surviving. The next time the DOT workers spot the lynx, they should give Audubon a call and see if their trackers can check it out. [end quote]

 

[grouseking]

THATS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! if i ever saw a Lynx down here in chester i'd crap my pants.

grouseking

 

[Periwinkle]

Hhmmph....

I almost mentioned this when the first lynx post went up, but figured I had to be wrong -- a few weeks ago driving north on I-93 our headlights picked out something running across the road in front of us just beyond exit 17.

The first thought was "what the f#@& was THAT?!!!" We figured definitely cat like movement, too big for anything we'd seen before. Hhmmph. Maybe.

Guess it's time to memorize another set of animal track characteristics. Oh, geeez.... More critters....

 

[Mattl]

I bet a stray Lynx roams chester, he likes to be near spruce swamp -Mattl

 

[Jim lombard]

Up in Washington County Maine they have some of the biggest Bobcats in the world, I was getting bait for ice fishing and the guy was also a taxidermist, he was mounting one that was over 50lbs. Huge animal.

 

[stopher]

I bet it's a bobcat. Near the northern edge of their range (which includes NH), bobcat are usually in the 30 - 40 lb range. Jim's 50 pounder would be a true monster. Lynx are usually under 30 lb. but their long legs and thick coat make them look bigger.

I don't know why Washburn is concerned about the hare density in Merrimack County. Bobcats are generalists. They'll eat anything they can catch.

After a two-month hiatus, it's good to get back on my favorite hiking forum and talk wildlife