Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx)

Common Names: Eurasian Lynx

In Norse mythology, Freyja, the goddess of love and beauty is often depicted riding a lynx. In modern times, many people have a different view of the Eurasian Lynx, and because of this there are fewer of these cats in western Europe than in ancient times. 

The Eurasian Lynx was once considered a subspecies of the bob-tailed cat complex that includes the Canada Lynx, Lynx canadensis, Iberian Lynx, Lynx pardinus, and the Bobcat, Lynx rufus. Today, most scientists consider these four cats to be separate species, with the Eurasian Lynx being the largest in size, as well as distribution.

The Eurasian Lynx's fur has a usual ground colour of a yellowish-grey to greyish-brown, with white under parts. The soft, thick pelage is thickest on the back, and can be variably marked with more or less distinct dark spots, and sometimes small stripes. Northern animals tend to be greyer and less spotted than southern animals. In Scandinavia, spotted cats are called "cat lynx," while unspotted ones are called "wolf lynx." Summer coats usually have dark spots that fade to barely visible in the winter. There is a distinct ruff of long hairs framing the face. The ears are large and pointed, and tipped with 4-5 cm erect tufts of dark hair. The backsides of the ears are black towards the tips, and show light central spots. Irises are a yellowish-brown to greenish, and the pupils are round. Their legs are long, with rear limbs longer than the front ones, giving the body a tilted forward look. The footpads are broad and well furred for walking on snow, and the short tail is black-tipped.

With one of the widest ranges of all wild cat species, the Eurasian Lynx prefers deciduous forest or old growth taiga and mixed woodlands, with plenty of undergrowth for cover. They are found throughout the northern steppes of the Himalayas to an elevation of 2,500 m, in alpine tundra, rocky areas above the tree line, the mountains of the central Asian desert region, and the entire Tibetan plateau.

Like all the lynx species, Eurasian Lynx show a preference for rabbits and hares, but their larger size also allows them to hunt larger prey, such as roe deer, musk deer and young red deer. They take a larger range of prey than the Canada and Iberian Lynx, and thus are not tied to the population fluctuations of the rabbits. Eurasian Lynx eat a variety of mammals, from mice, picas and squirrels, to marmots and wild boar piglets, to other carnivores such as martens, foxes, badgers, and wildcats. Domestic stock, including sheep, goats and reindeer, is sometimes taken. They also hunt a variety of birds, including ducks, grouse, partridge and pheasants. They have been seen to cache carcasses in trees, especially in areas where there are other carnivore competitors.

Mating occurs in late winter and early spring in most areas, usually February and March. The female is monoestrous, and the receptive period can last 4-10 days. Dens are located inhollow logs, at the base of old trees, in rocky areas, or dense vegetation. One to four, usually 2-3,kittens are born after a gestation period of 67-74 days. Kittens average 250-430 grams at birth. Their eyes open around two weeks of age, and they begin to walk between 24-30 days. They can nurse for 3-5 months, but will start to eat solid food at around one month. The young may remain with the female until the next winter mating season, and littermates may stay together for a few weeks or months after separating from the female, travelling and hunting co-operatively. Sexual maturity for females is reached between 21-24 months of age, while males take approximately 30 months. Captive Eurasian Lynx have lived to 24 years of age.

The increasing urbanization and domestication of western Europe, and the resulting significant loss of habitat and diminished prey base, have led to a severe reduction of the Eurasian Lynx population. The taking of domestic stock has also brought them into direct conflict with farmers and ranchers, who kill them as pests. A reintroduction program in Switzerland in the past two decades has met with some success, but the remaining natural habitat can only support so many cats. Eurasian Lynx are also legally hunted in some countries. In Finland, where their population grew from virtually zero in the 1950's to over 500 thirty years later, special hunting licences are now issued. In the former Yugoslavia, a release program in 1973 increased the population to the extent that hunting is now allowed. In Sweden, excessive hunting and the feline leucopoenia virus have resulted in a severe drop in the population, and they are protected there. The Eurasian Lynx is thought to be doing well in Russia, with an estimated population of nearly 40,000. However, escalating deforestation, persecution as stock killers, and illegal poaching remain major threats to their future. They are heavily trapped for the fur trade across their range.

Studies have shown that Eurasian Lynx are quick to rebound if hunting pressures are lessened, and protected areas with good prey bases are set aside. They are placed on Appendix II of CITES.