Catymology

Canada lynx, an endangered species, are being trapped and killed illegally, according to an article in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune. Two animal welfare groups have sued the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, alleging that

...at least a dozen lynx have suffocated, starved or been otherwise harmed since 2002 by traps such as wire neck snares and steel-jawed leg-hold traps.

The traps are set legally to catch different fur-bearing animals such as foxes, bobcats and martens. The suit was filed by the Humane Society of the United States and Help Our Wolves Live, a Minneapolis nonprofit group.

The Canada lynx, as it's name implies, wanders back and forth across the northern border between Minnesota and Canada. They are beautifull, long-furred creatures with fluffy ear feathers and little bobbed tails.

A DNR spokesman saw a hidden agenda in the lawsuit.

"What we're looking at here is animal rights activists looking to use the Endangered Species Act and the lynx as a mechanism to ban trapping in Minnesota," he said.

I don't know whether the animal rights groups want to ban trapping, although as a cat, I certainly hope that they do. Domestic cats and dogs can get caught in traps, too--a sad fate for any creature.