Age, Sex, Reproduction, and Spatial Organization of Lynxes Colonizing Northeastern Minnesota

Abstract

From 1972 through 1978, lynxes (Felis lynx) emigrating from Canada were studied in northeastern Minnesota. Fourteen individuals were radio-tracked, 8 were ear-tagged, and 49 carcasses were examined. Sex ratios of the samples were equal during the first years of the study, but females predominated later. At least half of the radio-tagged lynxes were killed by humans; no natural mortality was detected. Home range sizes ranged from 51 to 122 km² for females and 145 to 243 km² for males, up to 10 times the sizes of those reported by other workers. Ranges of females tended to overlap. Males and females appeared to be segregated in the population.