Female Lynx Range and Cub Mortality

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Female Lynx Range and Cub Mortality

CAT NEWS
Issue 15, Autumn 1991

Radio-tracking studies of the spatial organization of female lynx with cubs in the Swiss Jura mountains showed very little range overlap, according to German biologist Petra Kaczensky. Four female lynx were tracked, and had ranges varying from 70-200 km².

Lynx kittens remained at the den for up to 6-9 weeks, cared for only by the mother. During the denning period, Kaczensky found that two females used only 6 km² and 9 km² around dens. The range extended to 18.5 km² and 84 km² respectively during the following three months. Thirty prey were found in the two areas, with distances between consecutive kills ranging from 200 metres to 8.4 km. Kaczensky pointed out that earlier studies had shown significantly greater distance between consecutive prey of male lynx.

Kaczensky said that, on average, one of two cubs per litter died for unknown reasons while still with the mother. Remaining young separated from their mothers at 10-11 months, trying to find their own territories. All of four dispersing young studied died, the oldest reaching an age of only 19 months.

She added that research in the past four years had shown that only two cubs out of 13 from seven litters were still alive in March 1991. All died before reaching sexual maturity. Thus juvenile mortality appeared to play an important role in the self-regulation of an established lynx population, Kaczensky declared.

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