Hidden camera in the forest captures rare and endangered cats

The project's organizers were surprised by the result. According to the StarTribune, biologist Tom Gable came across the content while reviewing hours of footage captured by the Voyageurs Wolf Project, which studies the species in the area. The clarity of the image, the proximity of the lynx to the camera, and the fact that it was captured during the day are not common, Gable said. In an interview with the StarTribune, the biologist said that most of the time, the footage captures the animals from afar or at night.

The area is remote and home to this species. According to Gable, the area where the lynx was seen is in the middle of the forest, far from the city, and is home to at least four packs (wolf packs).

The project has hundreds of cameras spread throughout the forest. Voyageurs Wolf has approximately 350 devices strategically installed in an effort to find, document and share local wildlife sightings.

This species lives between the United States and Canada. The Canada lynx is known for its thick fur and the tufts of hair at the tips of its ears. In 2022, one estimate suggested there were between 100 and 300 Canada lynx in Minnesota. The species is considered endangered under the Endangered Species Act, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.