Lynx DNA – You Can Help!

HAVE YOU CAPTURED LYNX IN THESE WMUs?
If you have a trapline within the following Wildlife Management Units, we kindly request your participation. We are looking for small samples of lynx pelts (0.5” x 0.5”) for lynx captured in the following Alberta WMUs:

 108, 150, 242, 248, 250, 258, 260, 308, 314, 318, 320, 332, 337, 340, 351, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 400, 402, 406, 408, 414, 417, 418, 420, 422, 426, 428, 429, 430, 432, 434, 436, 437, 438, 439, 440, 442, 444, 445, 446, 500, 504, 505, 516, 522, 523, 526, 527, 528, 530, 532, 535, 537, 539, 541, 544, 648, 651, 841.

 

We are also looking for small samples from BC Traplines that begin with:

0203, 0210, 0211, 0215, 0312, 0313, 0316, 0317, 0318, 0319, 0320, 0326, 0327, 0328, 0329, 0330, 0332, 0333, 0335, 0336, 0338, 0339, 0340, 0341, 0344, 0401, 0402, 0403, 0405, 0406, 0408, 0409, 0414, 0415, 0417, 0419, 0420, 0421, 0422, 0423, 0424, 0425, 0430, 0432, 0434, 0435, 0436, 0437, 0501, 0503, 0504, 0505, 0506, 0509, 0510, 0512, 0513, 0514, 0601, 0602, 0606, 0607, 0609, 0610, 0611, 0615, 0616, 0617, 0619, 0620, 0621, 0622, 0624, 0627, 0628, 0629, 0630, 0701, 0702, 0703, 0704, 0705, 0706, 0707, 0708, 0709, 0710, 0711, 0713, 0716, 0717, 0718, 0719, 0720, 0721, 0722, 0723, 0725, 0726, 0727, 0728, 0729, 0730, 0732, 0734, 0735, 0736, 0737, 0738, 0739, 0740, 0741, 0742, 0744, 0746, 0747, 0748, 0750, 0752, 0753, 0755, 0756, 0801, 0803, 0804, 0805, 0806, 0807, 0808, 0809, 0811, 0812, 0813, 0814, 0815, 0821, 0822, 0823, 0825.

HOW TO DO IT-

If you are trapping lynx in the above areas, please consider mailing a small sample of your lynx pelt and  the protocol sheet in a regular size mail envelope through standard mail. You will be refunded the cost of your postage. Alternatively,  please contact us if you would like us to collect the sample personally from your location or from one of the main  Fur Depots (e.g. Westlock Fur Depot, NAFA Fur Depot-Prince George), or if you would like a pre-paid envelope for your sample.

WHY WOULD YOU SEND ONE?

These samples are part of a regional DNA study of lynx across Alberta and British Columbia. Lynx are the most highly mobile land mammal on the planet, traveling upwards of 1500 km in a single dispersal. Lynx travel these great distances in search of areas containing their primary prey, snowshoe hare. This study aims to discover if lynx are traveling and then breeding all across Alberta and British Columbia, or if there are movement boundaries creating “resident lynx” in certain regions. Studies have shown a well-mixed population in Central and Northern Alberta, but no data has been collected in Southern Alberta or in many parts of BC. This study will be a great leap towards understanding the secretive habits of this elusive predator.
Please contact us with any questions that you have about this project or if you would like a pre-paid envelope for your pelt sample. Additional protocol sheets can be found  HERE.
We deeply appreciate your participation.

Thank You

Gabriela Yates

587-710-8204,
email: gyates@ualberta.ca
Gabriela Yates, Lynx Project Leader
Z-207 Biological Sciences Building 116 ST & 85 AVE
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta T6G-2E9