Predation on Two Mule Deer, <em>Odocoileus hemionus</em>, by a Canada Lynx, <em>Lynx canadensis</em>, in the Southern Canadian Rocky Mountains

Abstract

A male Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) killed two Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the southern Canadian Rocky Mountains in January 1999 and made use of the kills for 28 days. Canada Lynx predation on ungulates has been reported but is rare, and accounts have been brief. We detail the lynx behaviour associated with the kills and their consumption. An infrared monitor and attached camera were used to register daily activity at the kill site. We speculate on the factors that may have influenced this opportunistic predation event.

Lynx canadensis (Carnivora: Felidae)

“…Snow hardness affects sinking depth of lynx but not snow depth and L. canadensis sinks on average 7.7 cm in snow (Murray and Boutin 1991). One male L. canadensis penetrated from 9 to 14 cm in snow (Poszig et al 2004). Map drawn with information from Slough and Mowat (1996), Schwartz et al (2002), Anderson and Lovallo (2003), Poole (2003), Hoving et al (2005).…”

“…Mean (except where noted) body mass (kg; n, range or SD) of L. canadensis males and females, respectively, was: 12.53 (7, 9.98-13.15), 10.14 (14, 8.16-11.11) in Alaska (Berrie 1971;Stephenson et al 1991);10.55 (5, 9.08-11.80), 8.70 (3, 7.50-9.50) in Alberta (van Zyll de Jong 1975); 15 (single male), 12.3 (2, 10.9, 13.6) in Manitoba (Carbyn and Patriquin 1983);10.9 (7, 9.1-12.2), 9.9 (16, 5.4-12.7) in Michigan (Erickson 1955;Beyer et al 2001);10.6 (18, 6.0-13.2), 9.1 (26, 5.9-15.0) in Minnesota (Mech 1977(Mech , 1980Moen et al 2010); mean not given (83, 4.1-9.0), mean not given (71, 2.2-8.2) in Nova Scotia (Parker et al 1983); 9.05 (31, ± 1.19), 7.08 (15, ± 1.36) in the Northwest Territories (Murray and Boutin 1991;Poole et al 1998);12.3 (1), 8.6 (1) in Wisconsin (Schorger 1947;Doll et al 1957);10.7 (93, 6.4-17.3), 8.6 (91, 5.0-11.8) in Nova Scotia (Saunders 1964); and 11.3 (27, range not given), 10.0 (19, range not given) in Yukon (Slough and Mowat 1996;O'Donoghue et al 1997). Additional body masses (kg) of individual L. canadensis were: 15.9 (adult, male) in British Columbia (Poszig et al 2004);12.3 (adult, male) in Iowa (Rasmussen 1969);12.7 (adult, male) in Maine (Fuller 2004);8.2 (kitten) in November in Manitoba (Carbyn and Patriquin 1983); 10.0 (adult, male), 7.0 (adult, female), 4.0 (juvenile, female) in Montana (Koehler et al 1979); 15.0 (adult, male), 9.9 (kitten, male), 4.5 (kitten, female) in Wyoming (Blanchard 1959); 7.80 (yearling, female), 3.75 (kitten, male) in January, 3.75 (kitten, female) in January, 5.50 (kitten, female) in April, 6.80 in Yukon …”

“…Lynx canadensis may prey on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus- Parker et al 1983;Fuller 2004;Squires and Ruggiero 2007), reindeer (Rangifer tarandus-Saunders 1963b;Bergerud 1971;Stephenson et al 1991), Dall's sheep (Ovis dalli- Stephenson et al 1991), and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus- Poszig et al 2004). On occasion, L. canadensis may kill and eat other carnivores such as red fox (Vulpes vulpes- Stephenson et al 1991;O'Donoghue et al 1998b Mowat and Slough 1998).…”

“…L. canadensis ambushes caribou and then bites on the head, neck, or shoulders (Stephenson et al 1991). It attacks mule deer by stalking and biting the neck 10-15 cm behind the ears (Poszig et al 2004). L. canadensis first feeds on big game by starting on the neck, then moving to the shoulders and rib cage, and finally consuming the haunches and internal organs (Poszig et al 2004).…”

“…It attacks mule deer by stalking and biting the neck 10-15 cm behind the ears (Poszig et al 2004). L. canadensis first feeds on big game by starting on the neck, then moving to the shoulders and rib cage, and finally consuming the haunches and internal organs (Poszig et al 2004). It may drag ungulate carcasses before eating (Poszig et al 2004).…”