Moments like these remind us how unpredictable animals can be. While driving through the quiet roads of Shrewsbury, Vermont, a man named Gary Shattuck noticed what looked like a bobcat strolling beside him. But as he looked closer, something about the animal’s walk and coat seemed unusual — so he hit record.
Later, when Gary sent the footage to Vermont Fish & Wildlife, the experts confirmed his hunch: it wasn’t a bobcat at all. It was a Canada lynx, one of North America’s most elusive and endangered wild cats.
A Once-in-a-Decade Sighting
The last confirmed sighting of a Canada lynx in Vermont was in 2018, making this new encounter a major event for wildlife researchers. Even more surprising, the lynx was spotted in Rutland County, far south of its usual range.
“This newest sighting is especially exciting because the cat was spotted well outside its typical habitat,” officials said in a press release.
Vermont Fish & Wildlife added that while many people report seeing lynx, most turn out to be bobcats — which look similar but lack a few key features. The Canada lynx has large back feet, a fully black tail tip, and high, sloping hindquarters, giving it a distinct, graceful appearance.
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Hope for a Rare Species
The Canada lynx remains endangered in Vermont and threatened across the U.S., with habitat loss and climate change posing major risks. But the animal in Shattuck’s video appeared healthy and calm, a sign that this individual is thriving despite the odds.
Officials explained that dispersing lynx often travel long distances in search of food and territory. “If people don’t bother him, he won’t be too worried about people,” they wrote on Facebook.
Seeing one of these magnificent animals alive and well offers a rare glimpse of hope for conservation — and a reminder that even in quiet corners of the world, nature is full of surprises.
