Vancouver is a city, but the community of Whistler, where the winter Olympic skiing events are actually held, is shared with native wildlife. A family of lynx was spotted hanging out near the luge track, and on Wednesday a lynx crossed the downhill skiing track.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/10/AR2010021003345.html -via Digg
(image credit: AP/Gero Breloer)
The lynx is a large cat - weighing up to 30 pounds and reaching 26 inches in height - that roams forests of the northern United States and Canada. And take it from a Canadian - downhiller Manuel Osborne-Paradis - the lynx is no cuddly outdoor friend when you're speeding down an icy slope at 70 mph.
"Get out of the way," he said. "Oh, wow. You do not want to get close to that."
The downhill session was already on hold because of fog, and no skiers linked with lynx. Still, officials issued a warning over the race radio in case someone was on the course. The lynx had its own agenda and hopped over the barriers lining the perimeter to retreat to the forest.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/10/AR2010021003345.html -via Digg
(image credit: AP/Gero Breloer)
Never heard of a lynx in Whistler ...
... thats my home town.