Northern Lynx

General information

The Northern Lynx is one of a number of subspecies of Eurasian Lynx. They are the 3rd largest predator in Europe, after the Brown bear and Wolf. They were once found in the UK but unfortunately died out 1300 years ago due to habitat loss, fragmentation and poaching for their fur. 

The Eurasian Lynx is the largest of the main four lynx species, with long legs, large paws and a short black tipped tail. During the winter their fur is thick and pale in colour, then as the summer approaches their fur thins and becomes a darker ginger to maintain camouflage. Lynx are skilled hunters that use stalking and ambushing to catch their prey, which can be game birds, rodents and small deer. This mainly solitary species will be most active during dusk and dawn but when food is scarce, they may hunt during daytime. Males and females will have overlapping territories where they will communicate through leaving scent marks.

Mating season falls between February and April each year, followed by a 70-day gestation period. On average a female will have 2 or 3 kittens in a litter but can have up to 6. These kittens are fully dependent on mum until the age of 10 months, when they will leave to find their own territory.