Physical description of Eurasian Lynx
The Eurasian lynx is the biggest of the four members of the lynx genus, weighing in at up to 35 kg. Those from the North and East of the Eurasian landmass are generally bigger than those from the more fragmented populations in Western Europe. Males are also bigger than females.
The lynx’s coat is very variable. There are both grey and almost orange lynx. The pale yellow color of other cats is also common. Spots can be large or small or even nearly stripes. Most noticeable though, are the tufts on the ears that are a distinguishing feature (unfortunately, in Western Europe, being wild, big and cat is enough to recognize it). Tails are short and have a black tip.
Like the Canadian lynx, the Eurasian lynx lives in areas that get a lot of winter snow. As a result, their paws are pretty large and furry, helping them travel better over the snowy ground in winter. Their legs are also relatively long.
Distribution and habitat of Eurasian Lynx
Found across Russia, Central Asia and Europe, the Eurasian Lynx has one of the largest ranges of any cat. Living in mostly forested areas, the lynx is more widespread in the East than in the West, where human development has severely restricted their range.
The deforestation of much of Western Europe has led to a demise in the historic lynx population here, leaving only patchy populations. Lynx today are much more numerous and have a more extensive range across Northern Europe and Russia.
Habitat varies across the lynx’s range. What is consistent, is that they prefer forested areas and areas with dense populations of prey (small deer or similar). In the southern area of their range, towards Central Asia and as far south as the Himalayas, forest cover is more limited so lynx live in more open areas. However, they still need places that have at least some trees or woodlands.
Eurasian Lynx behavior
The Eurasian lynx is most active during the early morning and late evening, the same time as their prey is active. Normally, they spend the rest of the day being lazy, resting in the bushes, though they are known to be good climbers and can be found in trees as well.
The range of single cats can be about 200 square kilometers, though males need more space than females. Habitat and prey determine the range, and sometimes this can be even bigger if prey is scarce and forest cover permits more travel.
The female’s home range depends on the availability to feed her young and is often reduced when she has very young kittens to care for. Sometimes, a female lynx will allow her territory to overlap with that of her daughters. The range of the male lynx can overlap with that of the female as he generally chooses areas that will give him as much mating opportunity as possible.
Like most cats, the Eurasian lynx marks its territory with urine and other secretions. They have good eyesight and hearing, though it is not well established if this is important for communication. Vocalizations are known but are often very quiet.
What do Eurasian Lynx eat?
Eurasian lynx specialize in preying on smaller ungulates (chamois, roe deer, etc.). Larger animals, such as moose or red deer, can also succumb to the lynx in the difficult conditions of winter. Anywhere where such prey is rare, the Eurasian lynx will prey upon smaller animals, such as hares and birds similar to the other lynx species. Lynx can kill prey up to 4 times their own size, generally by stalking under the cover of the forest and, like most cats, pouncing and grabbing the neck at the last moment, suffocating the prey.
Prey is regularly dragged off to the deep cover of the forest to be eaten. Larger prey is sometimes cached for later use.
Wolves and lynx inhabit the same space and are generally friendly towards one another. This is because their prey is usually different, and they can co-occur peacefully. Lynx hunt the smaller deer (roe and fallow deer), while wolves prefer the larger red deer.
Also, while these prey animals intermingle, they are generally found in slightly different areas, with the red deer out in the open where wolves can hunt more successfully in packs, leaving the lynx to hunt in the tighter areas of the forest for the smaller ungulates. This leads to a peaceful co-existence among the predators.
Mating and Parental care of Eurasian Lynx
Females and males live, like most cats, separate lives, coming together only to mate. The mating season is generally in the springtime, roughly February to April, and cubs are born about ten weeks later.
A litter is made up of 2 or 3 kittens who reach independence in a little less than a year. However, as soon as they are able to, the kittens follow the mother as she hunts and learn the necessary skills to provide for themselves.
Who preys on Eurasian Lynx
Generally, the Eurasian lynx is at the top of the food chain, though they are known to have been killed by bigger predators such as tigers and wolves, and of course, humans.
How long do Eurasian Lynx live?
Eurasian lynx are known to have survived more than 15 years in the wild but the survival rates of young lynx are not good.
Eurasian Lynx and their ecosystem
The Eurasian lynx plays a vital role in its ecosystem as it is an apex predator. So much so that it is being considered for reintroduction to areas where it has become extinct, such as the UK.
Lynx are well known for controlling the deer population and, as one of the main predators, are a determinant of the numbers of small ungulates in a region. This influence varies across the range, being dependent on the number of other predators and humans in the area.
Impact of Eurasian Lynx on the human economy
During the early 20th century, the Eurasian lynx was extensively hunted, especially for its fur. Today, hunting is illegal in its whole range except for Russia, a considerable portion of the lynx’s range. As a result, the population was endangered, though it is rebounding today. There are limited numbers in the Alps, but notable increases have occurred in both the population and inhabited areas in recent years.
Lynx are generally not a threat to humans, though they can attack when trapped or in danger. Attacks on livestock cause the most upset to humans, though this is generally not in large numbers outside of some parts of Scandinavia. Most European countries now tend to compensate farmers for losses as the economic importance of predators to the ecosystem is becoming better known.
As lynx prey heavily on game animals, hunters are also regularly annoyed by the animal. This is more of an issue in areas where the balance of the ecosystem is less robust than when the deer and lynx populations are in balance.
Conservation status and human impact on Eurasian Lynx
As hunting has been outlawed across all countries of the lynx’s range except Russia, the threat from hunting has been reduced. However, deforestation and loss of suitable habitat are still major threats today, across the Eurasian continent.
Some of the reintroductions of the lynx in the 1970s in Europe have been successful, especially those in France and Switzerland. The one big threat that still exists in Western Europe is the limited habitat. The extensive road and rail networks that must be traversed by lynx lead to fatalities every year.
The Swiss introduction has been so successful that the population has spread out into western Austria.
Other important information about Eurasian Lynx
Subspecies:
Lynx lynx lynx: Scandinavia, eastern Europe, western Siberia.
Lynx lynx carpathicus: Carpathian Mountains, central Europe.
Lynx lynx martinoi: the Balkan region.
Lynx lynx dinniki: the Caucasus mountains
Lynx lynx wardi: the Altai mountains.
Lynx lynx wrangeli: eastern Siberia.
Lynx lynx isabellinus: central Asia.
Lynx lynx kozlovi: central Siberia.
