The Yukon Wildlife Preserve has suffered a major loss with the death of a young lynx kitten.

This morning, the preserve announced the passing of the female kitten which had captured so many hearts last week during the facility’s Halloween Day festivities.

“We are extremely sad to announce the female lynx kitten has suddenly passed,” the preserve’s statement reads.

“This litter of three kittens (two male, one female) was born June 20, 2021.

“This lynx family has faced some unpredictable challenges. The animal care team works tirelessly to provide exceptional care of all the individuals in the preserve’s collection.

“Great amounts of time and emotions are invested into these animals, and in challenges such as this, the sadness is felt deeply by the team,” the statement added.

“The preserve prides itself on the ability to provide these animals with large natural habitats that encourages these animals to express important natural behaviours – like lynx climbing a tree. Or playing a good game of hide and seek with visitors where the animals can take themselves off-display, affording the animal privacy.

“This kitten was the smallest of the litter, and recently, during our annual Halloween event, showed her incredible tenacity and courage as she investigated the meaty-filled pumpkins while her brothers watched from a safe distance next to Mom.”

Jake Paleczny, the executive director of the preserve, spoke to the Star about the situation this morning.

The facility is still waiting for results, he said, but an initial examination showed some bruising on one side of the kitten’s face.

“There was some blunt-force trauma,” Paleczny said.

“We’re waiting on further results, but we don’t know if we will have much more to go on.”

He said the situation is difficult for the staff, who often become quite attached to the animals in their care.

The lynx family had just returned to their permanent enclosure a little more than a week ago after having received some annual shots and being re-integrated with one of the male kittens, who had suffered an injury during the early summer.

It has been rehabbed by itself for approximately three months after a leg injury left it with nerve and muscle damage.

The mother had re-accepted it once the family was reunited, and it was allowed to return to its habitat enclosure.

The mother of the kittens, and an older female offspring who is also in the habitat, had been having some trouble re-integrating with each other since the family was returned, Paleczny said, but recently had been improving their relationship.

He flatly said there is no chance another lynx had killed the kitten. No injuries consistent with an attack were discovered during the examination.

He said the preserve would issue more information if anything significant became available.