When we hear the word ‘pet,’ we generally assume a tiny adorable creature. The thought of keeping a large animal as a pet is daring. This is especially true when it comes to larger versions of the cute little animals we are used to seeing around. One example is the Canadian Lynx; at 19-22 inches in height and 2.5-3.5 feet in length, it is about twice the size of a domestic cat. The majority of Canadian lynxes are found in Canada and Alaska. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) also reports large populations of the lynx in Colorado, Maine, Montana and Washington. These big cats are known for their dense silvery-brown coat, ruffled face and tufted ears, and they reside in densely forested areas where they do their best to avoid any human contact.This cat is determined to spread a message that bigger cats can be just as friendly and safe as smaller ones. Born in May 2011, Max is a Canadian Lynx that has become an educational animal ambassador.
In 2002, Bernadette started working with animals as a zookeeper at Hoosick Falls, N.Y. When the zoo closed six years later, Hoffman took on a part-time job at the Pember Museum of Natural History in Granville. She also runs a program called Wildlife Education which Max is part of.
The two share a healthy and friendly bond with each other. In January 2016, Hoffman posted a video on YouTube showing how they interact. In the video, Hoffman gently strokes him as he purrs like any other domesticated cat.
Hoffman captioned the video, “Max Lynx, the educational animal ambassador, takes a moment to get some good scratchin’ before he sits down for his meal.” In the clip, the feline can be seen having a great time with his human. “He educates the public on the endangered Canada Lynx in hopes that people will be driven to conserve our environment and protect our wildlife. He is NOT declawed. During the winter he weighs 40 pounds and summer about 34. He has about 4 inches of fur in this video which makes him look fat….I mean fluffy!” she added.
The video has received more than a million views on YouTube and over two thousand comments. We think that he is doing a great job as an educational ambassador.
When asked if he could hurt anyone, Hoffman replied, “Max has no contact with anyone except myself, so he has not injured anyone. I have gotten a black eye and a couple good scratches but no bite marks and none of the injuries were from aggression – just stupid accidents.”
Max has been with Hoffman since he was just a baby, so he did not exhibit many difficulties during training. Although he was nervous about his new role as educational ambassador, he seems to have eased into it. He is doing his best to ensure a safer future for his species. “Education of our next generation is the only hope for the survival of our endangered and threatened animals,” Hoffman said.
