© U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lynx rufus
Police and officials with the Ministry of Natural Resources confirmed the death of the big cat at a media conference Tuesday.
Reports came in last week about the animal and its aggressive behaviour near the trails between MacLean Drive and the Timmins and District Hospital. Some residents took to social media sites such as Facebook to voice their fear for their pets.
Staff Sgt. Henry Dacosta confirmed that the animal had attacked and killed a dog that was with its owner on the trail.
"Public safety is the paramount issue here," he said. "Based on the one circumstance over the weekend where the actual person involved got into battle with this lynx and afterward she got a hold of her dog and was able to walk away but the lynx was still following her. That's a serious concern."
"Lot's of people walk there with their kids. People love their pets and a lynx comes onto the animal and the person tries to defend their pet and they get hurt ... we don't want to see that."
He said that they took into consideration that the animal wasn't leaving the area, had attacked pets and killed a dog and was on a popular hiking trail before dispatching it.
Dacosta called it an unfortunate incident.
The Canada lynx is medium sized cat that ranged from 80 centimetres to 90 centimetres in length with long legs, large paws and a short tail. Lynx are distinguished by their long black-tipped tufts of fur on its ears. Traditionally, lynx are shy and secretive and generally stay away from humans.
Derrick Romain, biologist with the Ministry of Natural Resources, said the lynx most likely came into the urban environment to look for food. The population of snowshoe hares, a major part of the lynx's diet, has been on the decline for a number of years.
Romain said the lynx was found near a bird feeder looking for alternate prey like squirrels and birds.
"We are advocating to not put up any bird feeders on the walking trails," he said. "We regret the situation that happened. (Snowshoe hares and lynx) are both on the recovery phase. Lynx have never been known to attack humans. They're coming into areas that they normally don't want to be in because their prey is not there anymore."
He said they are seeing more reports of lynx in the area because of the food shortage.
Although the MNR are trained to use tranquilizer guns and were able to approach the lynx, Romain said sedating the animal wasn't an option.
"I think it is entitled to stay right there," he said. "No more bird feeders and keep your dog close by. This time of year, bears are hibernating. The only other wildlife out there are wolves, lynx, coyote and foxes that like small domestic pets."
He also urged pet owners to keep their dogs on a leash while walking on the trails. He said people are enticing wild animals by having pets run free.
Are animals become conscious of Man's encroachment and threat to thier very existence?
Who says that the coming awakening does not apply to the animal world.