Understanding large carnivore space use is essential for effective management in human-dominated landscapes and accurate population estimates. However, Eurasian lynx show significant variation in home range sizes across Europe, which makes broader extrapolations harder. Our study, conducted in the temperate forests of the Western Carpathians across Slovakia, Czechia, and Poland, analyses the home range variations of 35 Eurasian lynx (2011–2022) using GPS telemetry. It explores how intrinsic and environmental factors shape their spatial behaviour under anthropogenic pressure.
Lynx male home ranges were on average from 283 to 360 km², while female ranges varied from 148 to 190 km. Our research showed that lynx home ranges in the Western Carpathians were 1.7 – 10.5 times larger than previously estimated by less precise methods. The insights into lynx spatial requirements provided by our study will significantly improve the accuracy of population size estimates and the effectiveness of mitigation measures across the Western Carpathians. These findings will also support sustainable management practices and conservation efforts throughout the Carpathians and Europe.
The full study:
Factors Shaping the Home Ranges of Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Western Carpathians