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The lynx is a nocturnal hunter that ambushes
its prey. This solitary animal inhabits the forests of North America, Europe,
and the Soviet Union. The lynx once inhabited forests throughout
North America, Europe, and Asia, but today its range is severely limited
because of the clearing of woodlands. The lynx has also been widely hunted
for its pelt, further decreasing the population.
Habitat: The lynx is found in forests among dense vegetation. It is a nocturnal hunter, and it occupies a home range that varies in size according to the availability of prey. When prey is abundant, the male roams over an area of up to 20 miles, while the female has a range half that size. When prey is scarce, the lynx roams farther to find food. The male marks his territory by shredding the bark on tree trunks and spraying them with urine. Like a domestic cat, the lynx buries its droppings. Still, when it is marking the boundary of its territory, it leaves them unburied to warn other animals of its presence.
Food and Hunting: The lynx is a carnivore, or meat eater. It is not as fast as some of its feline relatives, so it locates its prey with its sharp eyesight and acute hearing, often ambushing it rather than chasing it. It catches its prey by waiting behind a boulder or on a low branch of a tree, attacking before the victim has a chance to escape. In northern Europe, the lynx hunts foxes, rabbits, hares, rodents, birds, and small deer. In warmer parts of its range, the lynx buries the remains of a kill to eat later, but if it were to do so during the winter, the meat would freeze and become difficult to eat. In the United States and Canada, the lynx mainly hunts snowshoe hares. In these areas, the lynx’s population fluctuates, paralleling that of the snowshoe hare, whose population peaks every 9 to 10 years. The lynx also eats meadow voles, small deer and moose, caribou, and sheep. Unlike its European relative, the North American lynx hides meat by covering it with a thin layer of snow or leaves. Lynxes rest on a rocky outcrop before starting their nightly hunt. The lynx’s short, powerful legs and especially large paws are well adapted for hunting in the deep snow.
Lynx and Man: The lynx was once more widespread than it is today, especially in Europe. The clearing of forestland has destroyed the animal’s habitat and forced it to retreat into a smaller range. Hunting has decreased its numbers as well. Like other members of the cat family, the lynx has been extensively hunted, primarily for its fur, but also for its meat. The main threat to the lynx is the farmer. Although some farmers see the lynx as beneficial since it kills foxes, rodents, and horseshoe hares, others regard the lynx as a pest because it kills sheep, goats, and other livestock. In western Europe the species has been almost exterminated for this reason.
Breeding: The normally solitary male leaves its range and searches for a mate in mid-March to early April. He fights with rival males, and he can be heard making a high-pitched shriek and wail during this time. After mating, the female gives birth to a litter of up to four kittens in a hollow tree or beneath dense undergrowth. The furry kittens are born blind and helpless, and they develop slowly. They open their eyes after 10 days and begin to venture outside the den five weeks later. The kittens are weaned at two months but remain with their mother until the following spring. The young cannot survive their first winter without their mother.
Key Facts: Sizes, Breeding, Lifestyle, and
Related Species:
Sizes:
Length: 2-3 feet. Male larger than female
Height to shoulder: 2 ft.
Tail length: 2-6 in.
Weight: 11-55 lb.
Breeding:
Sexual maturity: 1 year
Mating season: Mid-March to early April
Gestation: 60-73 days
No. of young: Up to 4, but usually 1 or
2
Lifestyle:
Habit: Solitary
Diet: Small mammals such as birds, hares,
rabbits, foxes, and deer
Lifespan: 10-20 years
Related Species: The pardel lynx, Felis
pardina, found in southern Europe, is closely related, as is the bobcat,
F. rufus, of North America.
Distribution: Canada and Alaska south
into Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Parts of New England, New
York, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Also parts of Europe and the Soviet Union.
Conservation: Although its range is greatly
diminished, particularly in Europe, the lynx is still quite common.
Features of the Lynx:
Coat: Its coat varies in color from pale,
sandy gray to a rusty red. Its thin summer coat has faint spots. In winter
the coat becomes much denser and is a frosty gray color.
Feet: Its feet are large, round, and padded
underneath to help it travel over deep snow.
Ears: The lynx has long tufts of fur in
its ears that help it to hear.
Smell: The lynx has an exceptional sense
of smell that helps it detect prey over varying distances, depending on
the animal. Lynx: Rat 250 feet. Rabbit 1,000 feet. Reindeer 2,000
feet.
Did You Know:
The name lynx is derived from Lyncaeus, the name
of the sharp-eyed pilot on Jason’s ship, the Argos.
Studies of the lynx in captivity reveal that
its acute sense of smell can detect a rat at 250 feet.
Although the lynx swims and climbs well, it does
not run very fast.
A lynx can jump six feet into the air to catch
a bird as it takes off from the ground.
In some parts of Europe, Stone Age man hunted
the lynx to extinction.
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