Back in September, Tim Newton woke to an unfamiliar sound outside his home in Alaska and discovered a rare, heart-stopping sight: a Canada lynx mother with a rambunctious crew of kittens racing across his deck. The wild family treated the porch and lawn like their own playground, leaping, chasing, and tumbling with the kind of carefree energy you only catch in brief encounters with wildlife. Moments like these are uncommon—seeing a single lynx is lucky, but an entire family is almost unheard of—so Tim carefully observed, photographed, and shared the magical visit, never expecting to witness it again.
These magnificent creatures were playing for only a short while before vanishing into the quiet Alaskan woods, leaving behind nothing but soft paw prints and an unforgettable memory. Tim assumed that would be the end of it; wild lynx typically keep their distance from people, and family sightings are fleeting. Yet the visit etched itself into the household storybook—a once-in-a-lifetime glance into the secret lives of elusive animals.
Tim Newton Photography
Their visit was brief, and Tim didn’t expect to see them again—after all, sightings of a lynx, let alone a family of eight, are rare. But the story took a delightful turn two months later when his wife, Cathy, heard that same telltale commotion on a snowy morning. She peeked outside and, to her astonishment, found the lynx family back on the porch, the kittens skittering over the fresh dusting of snow like they owned the place.
On November 11, the mama lynx returned with her seven kittens. They streaked across the deck just as they had before, their paws whispering over the boards, tails flicking, eyes bright. Cathy, stunned and thrilled, grabbed her phone and began recording. The second visit felt even more intimate—winter light, a quiet yard, and the playful chaos of wild youngsters—so she captured as much as she could to share with Tim and the world.
Cathy Newton
“It was fascinating to see Mama playing as much as they were! Five kittens were on the deck playing with Mama, while two were in the yard roughhousing,” Cathy told Love Meow. She added that Tim was away at the time, but she managed to film multiple clips of the encounter. The kittens’ confidence and the mother’s patience made the whole scene irresistibly charming—wild, pure, and unbelievably cute.
Tim Newton Photography
Watch this amazing footage of the mama lynx playing with her kittens. The videos capture quick bursts of play, tender supervision from the mother, and the kittens’ growing independence. For a species that typically remains out of sight, these visits offered a rare window into their behavior and family bonds—proof that even the most elusive wildlife sometimes chooses our backyards as brief stages for their stories.
A light layer of snow covered the deck, so after a spell of energetic play, the family padded off, leaving a trail of crisp paw prints pressed into the white. The tracks lingered long after the lynx disappeared, a delicate signature of their visit. It was a gentle reminder that while these animals prefer the solitude of the wild, curiosity—and perhaps a safe, open deck—can bring them back for another joyful romp.
Tim Newton Photography
The beautiful lynx family appears to be thriving. Their second visit suggested healthy kittens, an attentive mother, and a comfortable territory nearby. For Tim and Cathy, it was more than a wildlife sighting—it was a rare, intimate connection with nature right outside their door, a moment they’ll never forget and a story they’re grateful to share.
Tim Newton Photography
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