Sometimes, what makes the natural world so compelling is its inherent blend of risk to humans and beauty.

That’s what some residents of this Canadian town discovered.

Recently, Allison Burton found an animal walking down her street.

Despite its heavy coat of grey fur, she had no clue what it was at first. Her initial thought was that she was seeing a dog. But closer inspection revealed something else entirely.

It was a Canada Lynx, a native, but uncommon species.

Lynx are relatively small for wild cat species. They are barely bigger than a house cat and tend to prey on snowshoe hare or rodents. They are typically grey in color with big paws, black tufted ears, and short tails.

While Canada Lynx are native to the area, they are a rare sight to behold. The National Wildlife Federation classifies Canada Lynx as a threatened species.

In addition to that, these creatures are known to be elusive and tend to avoid human contact.

All that considered, it was fortunate Allison Burton spotted the cat at all.

Onlookers of the neighborhood got to revel in this cat’s beauty.

This special sight really made nature feel close to home. In an interview with The Dodo, Burton says, “It was just so majestic and happy to be in its own little world, doing its own thing.”

Other neighbors soon joined in admiring this amazing animal, and they must have all been touched by the moment of nature right out their front door.

Seeing a wild animal so close to you is a magical experience, and makes you feel much more connected to nature.

Plenty of people in the neighborhood made sure to watch from a safe distance.

The lynx was unbothered by all the attention.

With all the attention on it, the lynx continued its walk. Onlookers say the female cat paced down their street slowly and purposefully and seemed totally comfortable outside of her natural habitat. Eventually though, she disappeared into the woods she comes from, continuing on her day as normal.

This is far from the first time people have seen lynx close to home.

Residents of another Canadian town, Thunder Bay, have also reported seeing lynx prowl their streets.

In 2018 between February 26 and March 6, the Ministry of Natural Resources received 19 calls from townspeople reporting lynx sightings. Lynx seem to not be very afraid of humans, which may be why there are so many sightings in small towns.

What a cool interaction with nature!

Allison Burton was lucky to have been at the right place at the right time. These animals are rare predators, and there is nothing like coming into contact with something so unique and wild.

Although lynx are not predators of humans, they are still feral animals.

As such, they deserve some space and freedom. If you happen to come in contact with these beautiful animals in the wild, make sure to observe them from a distance and try not to disturb their peace. These majestic creatures may just give you a chance to be awed by nature.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: Treehugger, The Dodo, The National Wildlife Federation