BANFF, AB — The origin of a skinned, decapitated lynx found in a Banff, Alberta, dumpster has park wardens puzzled, and they’re hoping the public can help them solve the mystery.

A month ago, a resident reported finding the dead feline in a dumpster that appeared to have been skinned for a rug and decapitated for a mount. Wardens later had a vet confirm it was a lynx, but a subsequent investigation as to who dumped the animal, and if it was trapped in the park or within provincial boundaries, has yielded few leads.

They’re now asking for the public’s help, and for anyone with information on the carcass to come forward.
“We’re just interested if someone from the Bow Valley or surrounding community can come forward with any information about this,” said Banff park warden Terry Willis.

If the animal was caught in provincial lands in either Alberta or B.C., it might have been legally trapped, and the only issue would be illegally dumping wildlife in a town dumpster. However, if it was caught in the national park boundaries, there could be serious consequences for the trapper.

“We don’t really know where it was caught. I kind of suspect it’s not from the park just because we haven’t seen or heard of any animals being killed,” Willis said.

“If it was in the park, for us, that’s our primary mandate. Besides the legal issues of hunting in the park, lynx are a pretty rare and sensitive species.”