The last of three lynx born at the Yukon Wilderness Preserve in the spring of 2021 has died.

Jake Paleczny, the preserve’s executive director, issued a statement earlier this month on the death of the third lynx from the litter.

The male had sustained a leg injury last summer which required extensive rehabilitation to regain the use of its leg, Paleczny explained.

“Wedged between two trees, the lynx was unable to free itself and succumbed to a combination of its injuries and the cold temperatures,” he said.

“Nevertheless, Dr. Maria (Hallock, the preserve’s veterinarian) has conducted a necropsy and sent out samples for testing.

“The necropsy confirmed the lynx was in good health. Test results are not expected to turn up any new or conflicting information.”

The statement says the leg injury may have resulted in a deficiency of the lynx’s mobility, which may have contributed to the unusual fall.

lt’s also possible, however, that brittle, old branches broke unexpectedly under the lynx’s weight.

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to know exactly what happened, says the statement.

“This was heartbreaking,” said Paleczny. “We had spent so much time with this lynx as a kitten when he was injured.

“It’s especially hard for our team to lose animals that we’ve worked so closely with and know so well.”

The preserve still cares for three adult lynx.

The first of the three lynx kittens died in November 2021. The lynx had an acute to moderate head injury but it’s not possible to say what caused it; whether the lynx may have fallen out of a tree.

The second of the three lynx died in December 2021. The results of a necropsy were inconclusive.

But the preserve’s animal care staff had observed the kitten eating the day before, without any signs of health problems.