The lynx's coloration helps it to blend into its habitat. Cascade Olympic Natural History . InterPacific Printing Corporation. Its furred feet aid the lynx in swimming and help it to move almost silently as it stalks its prey. Lynx may rest in trees and pounce on prey from this position.
Lynx require dry forests where lodgepole pine is the dominant tree species.
These areas are more typical of the east slopes of the Cascades. Lynx depend almost exclusively on snowshoe hare as a prey base, but the cat will prey on other mammals and scrounge carrion. Habitat destruction, trapping, hunting, and reduction of prey base are reasons that have led to the concern about the lynx population. A small population of lynx exist that inhabit the Pasayten Wilderness east of Ross Lake on the Okanogan National Forest.