Among all the variety that the animals of the taiga boast , the lynx probably created among the people far from these lands the greatest number of superstitions and delusions. Most people consider her a rather large cat - almost the size of an Amur tiger. There are tales about the insidiousness of the beast and chilling stories about how she jumps from a branch to a man’s neck (moose, wild boar ...) and breaks his spine, as it penetrates into homes and drags children away. In our opinion, the lynx is an animal that does not deserve such a biased attitude. She lives, hunts, raises cubs, like any other taiga (or living in other places) beast. We will tell you more about it.
The appearance of the animal
Contrary to popular belief, this cat is not too large. Its dimensions are unlikely to exceed the dimensions of the average shepherd. With a body length of a meter, it weighs no more than fifteen kilograms, and small specimens hardly even exceed eight. Her physique is somewhat more muscular than that of domestic cats; the tail is short in comparison with them - no longer than 30 centimeters - and has a blunt tip resembling a stump. There are characteristic tassels on the ears, according to which even a person far from zoology will understand that there is a lynx in front of him. The description of the animal should be supplemented with a mention of the membranes between the toes, thanks to which the cat does not fall through even in loose, not packed snow. These predators live until the age of 21, if they had not died before from the teeth of natural enemies or human hands.
Habitat
In bygone days, 200-300 years ago, even Europeans knew who such a lynx was. The animal was widespread, and was found far south of the current areas of residence. However, everywhere it was considered a harmful predator and mercilessly exterminated. Today in Russia it inhabits deaf conifers between Kamchatka and Sakhalin. By the way, this beast “discovered” this island not so long ago. In other regions, also in deserted forests, one can meet lynx - an animal is observed in Central Asia, the Carpathians and the Caucasus. Everywhere populations are very small, and why are protected.
Feeding method
I must say that the lynx is a territorial and settled animal, but if necessary, when it stops grabbing food, it can roam. At the heart of her diet are hares, which are supplemented by rodents and birds - grouse, partridge and hazel grouse. The beast avoids large animals , but can lift up roe deer, elk, fallow deer cubs, and in the event of a turn up, boar gilts. Lynx hunts (photos of the animal are given in the article) from an ambush, imperceptibly creeping up and suddenly attacking. She does not stand a long run, and if the prey has managed to dodge, the pursuit stops. From a tree, the beast never jumps on a victim, although it climbs well, it can jump not only from one branch to another, but also through trees. However, he uses this method of movement only when fleeing danger. Lynx swims superbly, but does it extremely reluctantly, like all cats. The animal does not eat up all the prey right away - it partially hides it “for a rainy day”. The natural enemies of the lynx are wolverines and wolves. In the habitats of the latter, the lynx practically does not live.
Lynx Parents
In February, at the latest - in March, the "mating season" begins in lynxes. At this time, animals that usually prefer loneliness and chase competitors from their hunting territory are quite patient with the neighbors that have appeared. For the female pretty bloody fights happen. Pregnancy in lynxes lasts from 63 to 70 days; the female usually brings 2-3 kittens. Both parents look after the offspring. For the first couple of months, the lynx feeds exclusively on mother’s milk, then, with the appearance of teeth, they switch to the usual predatory diet, but they continue to feed on their mother for quite some time. At three months, they begin to accompany their parents, and by 8-9, when the spotting of the skin is manifested, they begin to participate in the hunt. Children stay with their mother until the next rut; if it has not acquired a pair, the lynx can remain with it further until they themselves have reached the age sufficient for breeding.
Why are lynxes valuable?
The reasons why these animals were so diligently destroyed are not completely clear. They are considered almost pests, but with the same success they can be considered as "orderlies of the forest", like wolves: in the first place they exterminate the sick, inferior and weak representatives of the species. Lynx avoids people; in hungry winters, it can come close to housing in the hope of eating poultry or livestock - but wolves, foxes, ferrets, and even bears are similar in behavior, apart from harmless ungulates. Unless, because of the skin, populations of lynx could be actively knocked out: her fur is durable and beautiful, highly valued in the fur trade.
By the way, lynx meat, unlike most predators, is tasty and tender, a bit like a veal. In the modern world, predators are rejected by cookery. And on Old Russian feasts were considered a delicacy.
So the lynx is not so harmful and useless. The photo of the animal, by the way, shows how beautiful and graceful it is. And no worse and no better than any other predator - they were created by such nature.