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| Breitenmoser, U.; Haller, H. | |
| Zur Nahrungskologie des Luchses Lynx lynx in den schweizerischen Nordalpen | |
| 1987 Zeitschrift fr Sugetierkunde (52): 168-191 | |
Collected data about feeding habits of radiocollar-fitted lynxes (_Lynx lynx_) in the northern Alps from 1983 to 1985. Lynxes in the study area fed mainly on the two smaller ungulates. 88 prey items were found: 48 roe-deer, 30 chamois, 5 hares, 2 domestic sheep, 2 marmots and 1 red squirrel. Analyses of faeces showed that neither small rodents nor birds are of any importance as lynx prey. A male and a female hunting in the same area showed different preference in killing roe-deer and chamois (12 : 14 and 21 : 7 resp.). Distances between consecutive kills varied from 5 to 10 km. Exploitation of killed ungulates in undisturbed sites was 88 %, close to civilization 62 %. Adult lynxes killed 1 ungulate every 6.6 days, a female with two cubs of 10 months1 every 2.7 days. The yearly consumption of 1 lynx is estimated to be 60 roe-deer or chamois, and the total consumption in the study area 3 % - 9 % of the ungulate population. Feeding strategy (surprise attack) is one of the main reasons for the large home ranges and the low population density of the lynx in the northern Alps. |
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