IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Hell, P. | |
| Results of lynx research in the CSSR: I. Part - Food ecology and hunting significance | |
| 1973 Beitr„ge zur Jagd- und Wildforschung (Viii): 335-344 | |
Stomach analysis was made of 88 lynxes. The findings were cloven-hoof game residues in 67.6 per cent, domestic sheep residues in 1.53 per cent, field hare residues in 3.06 per cent, fox residues in 1.53 per cent, small vermin in 32.39 per cent, forest fowl residues in 4.61 per cent, and insects in 4.61 per cent. In addition the lynx falls upon moufflons, alpine goats, marmots, and other animals, sometimes even frogs, snakes, and snails. In winter its nutrition is based also on carcasses. It rarely decapitates its prey, but usually kills it by throat bite and claws which leave deep claw marks. The skin of a prey will be torn open the back and neck. The lynx will first eat the stomach and intestines, flanks, and parts of the colon, while the bones and skin with carcass patches are left behind. Sometimes the prey is partly buried and the place marked by the lynx with its liquid excrements. As far as cloven-hoof game is concerned, the lynx will mainly fall upon young, weak, and sick females (that are less cautions) and, therefore, contribute to improving the sex and age structure of the population. Consequently, it may play an important assassination role in nature. |
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