Maternal behaviour and juvenile dispersal in the Eurasian lynx

Abstract

Lynx Lynx lynx maternal behaviour and dispersal pattern were studied by radio-telemetry in the Bialowieza Primeval Forest, E Poland from 1992-1995. From June-July, 2 females with kittens used 1-4 dens per month, for 5 to 33 days each. Consecutively used dens were 1-3 km apart and were located in inaccessible places. Female movements were concentrated around the den at this time. Mothers left their kittens and returned to them, on average, 3 times per day. Mean time of female's absence from the den was 4 h 20 min. Mean den attendance averaged 4 hours. In August, kittens began to accompany their mother. At this time, each den was used for 2-3 days only and the distances between consecutive dens were 0.5-2 km. Dens were situated in places where a female killed large prey. In August, a female spent an average of 12 h 50 min with kittens, alternating with 4-h of absence. Subadults dispersed at 9-11 months of age, immediately after separation from their mothers. Four subadult males dispersed for 11, 39, 62 and 129 km from their natal ranges. Two subadult females dispersed for 5 and 9 km. Lynx that moved the farthest distances covered most of their routes during the first two months of dispersal, when they moved 20-32 km/month, compared to 3-11 km/month in the later period. Distant emigrations of two adult lynx (55 km by a male and 120 km by a female) were also recorded. Directions and routes of lynx dispersal and emigration were related to the contemporary distribution and availability of woodlands and forest corridors.