The endangered Iberian lynx lives in southern Spain and formerly in eastern Portugal. [ needs update] There is an Iberian lynx reproduction center outside Silves in the Algarve in southern Portugal. A lynx is an opportunistic predator, and domestic cats are well within the size of prey it normally eats. As an apex predator, the lynx is an animal that plays an essential role in its ecosystem. They regulate the populations of prey species, including rabbits, rodents, and deer, which protects vegetation from being over-consumed. Many European countries, including the UK, have lost their lynx populations and now suffer from overpopulation of species like deer. What is a lynx’s scientific name?

The Iberian lynx is far rarer and lives only in the southern parts of Spain. It used to live in eastern Portugal as well but became extinct there. Hamilton, William J.; Whitaker, John O. (1998). Mammals of the Eastern United States. Cornell University Press. pp. 493–496. ISBN 0-8014-3475-0. There’s an unsourced claim going around that a lynx can see a mouse 76m (250ft) away. However, when tested, researchers concluded that they have more or less the same visual acuity as a house cat, and far less than a human, so it’s unlikely to be true. Bobcats, Canada lynx, and Eurasian lynx are listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List. However, the Iberian lynx is listed as endangered. Their current range is restricted to just two isolated areas in Spain, and the population is estimated to be 156 mature individuals. Their numbers are increasing, though. The latest assessment in 2014 changed their status from critically endangered to endangered. These animals are primarily threatened by other predators larger than it as well as humans. The Eurasian lynx is one of the largest predators in Europe, with only the gray wolf and brown bear being larger. In North America, the cougar, gray wolf, and coyote pose threats to the lynx. Humans have often hunted lynx for their fur, but some species are now protected, depending on the region. The Eurasian and Canadian lynx are most vulnerable to loss of habitat. Both are also dependent on prey numbers remaining healthy. The bobcat is the least endangered of all lynx species, and its numbers remain well into the hundreds of thousands despite being actively hunted by humans.Fedriani, J. M., T. K. Fuller, R. M. Sauvajot and E. C. York. 2000. Competition and intraguild predation among three sympatric carnivores. Oecologia, 125:258–270.

In January, in a separate project, conservationists launched a year-long study, Lynx to Scotland, to ask farmers, landowners and local communities what they thought about reintroducing lynxes. If they respond positively, a pilot project could be launched, with up to 40 lynx released in five years around forested Highland estates in the Cairngorms. If the public is not keen, organisers say the project will be dropped. Any proposal to reintroduce predators such as lynx ... would be wholly unacceptable to Scottish farmers and crofters Martin Kennedy, NFU Scotland president Lynx populations rise and fall in synchronization with the population cycles of snowshoe hares. When hares are abundant, more lynx survive to reproduce and their numbers increase. When hare populations fall, which occurs every 10 years, many lynx die of starvation. Lynx Description Lynx UK Trust believes Kielder forest in Northumberland is the most suitable place to reintroduce lynxes because it is a large forested area, has few roads and lots of deer. However, local people are divided over this contentious issue and at the end of 2018 a trial application was turned down by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs after advice from Natural England raised concerns. A lynx ( / l ɪ ŋ k s/; [4] pl.: lynx or lynxes [5]) is any of the four species (the Canadalynx, Iberianlynx, Eurasianlynx and the bobcat) within the medium-sized wild cat genus Lynx. The name originated in Middle English via Latin from the Greek word lynx (λύγξ), [4] derived from the Indo-European root leuk- ("light", "brightness"), [6] in reference to the luminescence of its reflective eyes. [6] Appearance Profile view of a lynx Many lynx are well adapted to life in the snow. They have soft, fluffy fur that grows long in the winter and wide, furry paws that make it easier to traverse snow-covered landscapes. The exception to this is the bobcat, which doesn’t live in snowy regions—its fur is shorter and stiffer. You can also differentiate a bobcat from another species of lynx because the underside of its tail is white. Are lynxes dangerous?Lynx are skilled hunters due to their great hearing and eyesight so strong that they can spot a mouse 250 feet away. Despite this, around half the offspring don’t make it through the first year. This makes them vulnerable to extinction, something with was a very serious threat until recently. 1 One of the lynxes on Gow’s farm in Devon. He says the three he has are too tame to let out into the wild. Photograph: Alexander Turner/The Guardian Ilves" (in Finnish). Finland: Riista- ja kalatalouden tutkimuslaitos. October 14, 2010. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011 . Retrieved May 30, 2011.

Most states in the United States declare that it is illegal to own any species of lynx. However, Alabama, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Wisconsin allow bobcats to be kept as pets. The Canada lynx has a one-month mating season between March and April. Mating calls and marking with urine are typical matings behaviors. Gestation is between two and three months and the resulting litter can be one kitten or as many as eight. Litter sizes appear to vary depending on the availability of prey. The kittens weigh between 6.2 and 8.3 ounces and do not open their eyes for 14 days. These kittens also leave their mothers around 10 months. The Iberian lynx litter is born between March and September after a two-month gestation period. The majority of births are in March and April. These kittens weigh between 7 and 8.8 ounces. By 10 months, the kittens are mostly independent, but many remain with the mother until about 20 months of age. They are known to get into violent fights with each other, which often leads to death. This starts to happen between 30 and 60 days of age. These stealthy cats avoid humans and hunt at night, so they are rarely seen. They usually target one primary prey. For Canada lynx, that’s the snowshoe hare and for the Iberian lynx, it’s the European rabbit. Meanwhile, bobcats have a more varied diet of rabbits, hares, rodents, and sometimes birds, while the larger Eurasian lynx hunts deer and other small animals.Lynx face a variety of threats in the wild, including poor food availability, habitat loss and degradation, illegal hunting, and human collisions. Where do lynx live? It’s believed that the lynx’s small tail is from a genetic mutation, which hasn’t hampered their survival. During summer the Eurasian lynx has a short brown-reddish coat, that changes in colour with the season and turns more grey-brown or silver-grey during winter. 10. Lynx have a short stubby tail The Iberian lynx is listed as endangered, due to poaching, fragmentation of habitat and the decline of its main prey, the European rabbit (due to rabbit haemorrhagic disease). Interesting Lynx Facts 1. Only half of the offspring survive the first year Banda, P. Solomon (September 18, 2010). "Lynx reintroduction ruled a success in Colorado". The Denver Post. Associated Press . Retrieved September 18, 2010.

Success of the Lynx Reintroduction Program". Colorado Division of Wildlife. September 7, 2010. Archived from the original on August 27, 2010 . Retrieved September 18, 2010. Canada lynx ( L canadensis) This wildcat has broad, horse-shoe like paws and dense fur for living in a snowy Canadian climate. Prefered prey is snowshoe hare.The Canada lynx and the bobcat are the most common of these cats in United States zoos. They are easily found in zoos all over the country, including the following: Conservationists focusing on lynx reintroductions are trying to figure out the best ways to manage these risks. So far, the location of the reintroduction, its timing, and proposals for national wildlife corridors are all strong components of the wildlife management program for lynx in Europe. 2 In 2004, there were thought to be around 100 Iberian lynx in southern Spain and due to efforts from both the Spanish government, and organisations such as WWF, the population is thought to have tripled to over 300 now.