Today, the bobcat prospers in the United States, with a population estimated at between 700,000 and 1.5 million. The lynx, however, has not fared as well. Although never abundant in the lower 48, lynx occupied parts of most northern states and western mountainous areas as far south as Utah and Colorado before European settlers arrived. But settlement and trapping severely reduced their numbers during the past century. A few lynx also show up occasionally in Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and some Great Lakes states.
Lynx make a living largely by hunting snowshoe hares.
Over time, the cats have become specialists, relying almost exclusively on a single prey species. About one hare every two or three days is required to fuel the lynx engine. If hares are scarce, lynx reluctantly dine on grouse and smaller birds, rodents and occasionally even caribou calves. Although adult lynx usually survive periods of hare scarcity, kittens may starve as their mother consumes all the prey she is able to catch. When food is scarce, females produce smaller litters or successfully rear fewer young.