Bobcat moves into Montreal’s Ecomuseum

Aria the bobcat moved into the Montreal Ecomuseum Zoo in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue on Dec. 7, 2024. (Ecomuseum) (ANTOINE_CLEMENT)

For the first time, visitors to the Ecomuseum Zoo in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, in Montreal’s West Island, will be able to watch as a bobcat (Lynx rufus) patrols its habitat.

Aria the bobcat will join the river otters, foxes, wolves, Genie the black bear and the other creatures at Montreal’s only outdoor zoo.

The bobcat moved into her home on Dec. 7 and can be spotted from three observation points.

“We are thrilled to welcome a bobcat into our care, a species hosted at the Ecomuseum Zoo for the very first time,” the Ecomuseum said in a news release. “Over the past few months, our project team has worked tirelessly to build a brand-new habitat tailored for a bobcat. Multiple teams collaborated to create an environment where our new resident could thrive.”

A bobcat is a type of lynx, with the others being the Canada lynx, Iberian lynx and Eurasian lynx.

The Ecomuseum has a number of activities planned to coincide with Quebec’s spring break including the “zookeeper for a day” camp (March 3 to 7), a Valentine’s Day game and the educational presentation, “Love is in the Air.”

Lynx lovers unable to make it to the West Island can also see the animals at the Biodome at the Olympic Park near the Pie-IX Metro.

Fun facts about lynx:

• Life span in the wild: 12 years
• Gestation: 56 to 70 days (one to five kittens)
• Canadian lynx hunt during the night. Their preferred prey is the snowshoe hare.
• Lynx have natural snowshoes for feet so they don’t sink.
• A group of lynx is called a chain, clowder or pestering.