Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1916-12-28
MANY LYNX SHOT
IN SkUK COUNTY
IN EARLY TINES

Lynx is an animal seldom seen IL
Wisconsin these days, but the Reeds
burg Free Press shows that the
were not particularly rare in time
past.
There are four varieties of lynx
common to the North American cont
nent, South America having none.
These are known as the Canada lynx,
the wildcat, catamount and the red
cat The catamount and redcat are
common in the Rocky Mountains,
only the two varieties first mentioned
being found in Wisconsin. The term
lynx, as generally used, refers to the
Canada lynx.
The lynx is much the largest and
most ferocious of it's species; is over
three feet in length and weighs 80
to go pounds It is distinguished from
it's feline relatives by it's erect, sharp
ly pointed, tufted and penciled ears
and abbreviated tail, usually not more
than six inches in length. The legs
and feet are large, it's claws are
: white, and the neck has pointed ruff
on each side which gives the animal
the appearance of wearing side
whiskers.
The lynx makes it's den or home
among rocks, in caves and hollow
tree trunks, where it brings forth
rom one to four kittens at litter.
usually in the month of April. The
color of the lynx varies somewhat
with the locality where it is found.
In Wisconsin, it's color is usually
dark gray, tinged with chestnut, the
limbs being darker than the body.
The back and elbow-joints are mot
tied with large indistinct blotches of
a darker color, most of the hairs be-
ing white at their extremities.
When leaping over the ground,
which it does in a series Of successive
bounds with back arched, the lynx
presents a quaint and weird appear
ance, which hunters describe as being
peculiar and ungainly. The principal
food Of the lynx is the rabbit, birds
and small animals Of all kinds. It is
fond of grouse, and young deer is a
much cherished dainty.
The early settlers of Sank county
had their propOrtiOnate share of
trouble caused by nocturnal visits Of
the lynx to their poultry yards, where
it made occasional destructive raids
among the chickens and turkeys, usu-
ally taking, however, only one fowl
at visit Although powerful brute
which no dog, however large or fierce,
can match, the lynx is cowardly and
will generally run from even small
dog and take to tree when closely
pressed.
Burt Inman, who resided five miles
west of Loganvtlle, was fond Of
hunting the lynx, and one winter kill
ed five. He tracked the animals
with a large hunting dog, which
would rapidly follow the trail, until
the lynx finally took to a tree, where
the dog would remain and keep it
freed until his master came upon
the scene. At the last chase with
this faithful dog, however, the lynx
suddenly turned upon the dog and
killed it, then made good it's escape.
When Inman reached his dog, he
found it terribly torn and lifeless
No dog can match a full grown lynx
which in combat uses its sharp claws
with lightning speed and deadly eff
feet.
In tho early sixties q German farm
CI IGS4Q4HS Ill INo IOWu o. money
Creek, killed a good sized female
lynx only a few rods from his barn
yard. HIS attention was attracted
by the barking Of his dog, which had
chased it up a tree. He went to the
spot and, looking up into the tree,
discovered the huge cat fiattened out
on limb in such manner as to al
most conceal itself. The farmer re-
turned to the house and, obtaining his
shotgun, aimed at it's head and
brought the animal to the ground.
The man then took the lynx carcass
to LOganville for exhibition and to
learn it's name, as he did not him
self know what species of animal he
had killed.
J. A. Richards of Reedsburg once
chased a lynx with a dog, six miles
before it took to a tree. On a cold
December night, a disturbance was
heard among a small flock of turkeys
which roasted in a tree near the barn.
AS soon as daylight came Richards
went out to learn the cause Of the
cOmmotiOn. At the foot of the tree
in which the turkeys were roosting
were feathers and fresh blood and in
the snow could be seen the tracks of
a lynx, which from the signs present,
had stolen turkey and carried it
away. Richards obtained a hunting
dog from neighbor, and with rifle