Small Wild Cats

[AlexE]

A bit more information

By reading the available literature and talking to wolf and lynx researchers, it becomes evident that interference between the two species is actually poorly studied. Some mammalogists tend to assume that wolves suppress the lynx population. Some even suggest details of  aggressive behaviour of wolves towards lynxes: strong wolf-packs attack lynx family groups and kill kits during lynx mating season, when the kits stay alone or disperse. Seemingly, such stories are only speculative believes and ideas. We collected evidence that the opposite is actually true, at least in the dense forests of Belarus.



Moreover, we got convinced that an adult lynx – especially a big male – can win a fight from any lone wolf. We photo-documented a  fight  between a (not very big and quite old, i.e. older than eight years) male lynx and a (not small) adult male wolf. The lynx threw the wolf on its back,  attacking it’s voulnerable belly. The lynx won the fight, and we have good reasons to assume the wolf died from its injuries. Before the fight, we frequently photographed this easily recognisable wolf , a few hours after the fight, the visibly gravely wounded wolf was photographed one more last time.


So, it’s clear that lynxes have plenty of opportunities to kill wolves. In forests, lynxes are also less voulnerable to attacks of wolf packs because they can climb in trees and so escape from danger.

https://lynxinbelarus.com/2017/08/21/lyn...erference/ Reply