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| Lynxes killing wolves in Belarus | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Dec 26 2017, 05:04 AM (6,434 Views) | |
| k9boy | Dec 26 2017, 05:04 AM Post #1 |
Apex Predator
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During vast amounts of time in the wild and a lot of field studies on wolves and lynxes in Belarus only lynxes killed by lynxes (males killed by other males and kits killed by males) were found. We never found any lynx (kits or adult) killed by wolves. In contrast, we found several wolf pups of various age and pregnant wolves killed by lynx: "8 wolf pups of 2-11 months old and 2 heavily pregnant female wolves that were killed by lynxes (1997-2015, Naliboki Forest and Paazierre Forest); one more pregnant female wolf was killed by either lynx or wolf (more likely to say that lynx, Naliboki Forest, May 2017); at least, two wolf litters up two one month old were killed by lynxes (Naliboki Forest, April-May, 2016 and 2017), two more litters β very plausible; one wolf litter of 2-3 months old and their small mother were very plausibly killed by lynx (Naliboki Forest, June-July 2016); adult male wolf plausibly died being wounded after a fight with a male lynx (Naliboki Forest, April 2017)" from article - https://sidorovich.blog/2017/09/06/wolves-and-lynxes/ "After killing wolf pups"   "Second factor of wolf pup mortality is predation lynxes, particularly by adult male lynxes. Indeed, we found that adult lynxes kill wolf pups quite regularly. As to this impact, we actually registered the following. In Naliboki Forest, 3 wolf litters up to 2 months old were definitely killed by lynxes and killing of 3 other wolf litters up to 2 months old by lynxes was found very plausible. Also, we discovered 8 wolf pups of 2-11 months old, which were killed by lynxes. Mostly adult male lynxes deliberately hunt on wolf pups. While roughly estimating, we suggest that in Belarus, at least, a half wolf pups are killed by lynxes in the habitats, where the lynx population density is 2 inds per 100 km2 and higher (may be up to 6)." from article - https://sidorovich.blog/2017/11/14/mortality-in-wolf-pups/ 5month old wolf pup killed by lynx  It seems that (based off the camera trap photos) lynx and wolves are not too far off in size in belarus, and lynx are a pretty big threat to the youngsters and females. He also states that the wolf that fought the lynx in those photos was last spotted injured, and presumably died from said injuries. More info and pictures on this in the articles. The blog is that of wolf and lynx researcher Vadim Sidorovich, "I have been in zoological studies since 1982, Doctor of Biology since 1989, Professor since 2007. Generally, the main field of my zoological interests was population ecology of carnivores and also other species of vertebrate predators as well as analysis of vertebrate predator-prey community in the transitional mixed forest in Belarus. In the last decade and nowadays I have mainly investigated population biology of the wolf Canis lupus and lynx Lynx lynx. The blog aimed to describe briefly the main steps of my former zoological way and to tell about the questions that I have investigated recently. The former studies, that were mostly published, are mentioned shortly with the links to the main publications on the topic. Thus, it is not necessary to describe everything in the blog. Concerning the current question I study and the books I do, there will be markedly more information. Please note that all information in the blog mainly refer to the territory of Belarus. For more than thirty years, till 2016 I had worked for the Institute of Zoology of the National Academy of Science of Belarus. But with time I started noticing that my working time was more and more wasted on the continuous applying for projects, reporting and very time-consuming presenting of the results in scientific journals. There was not enough time for the study itself. Such a system in zoology seems to act all around the world, when an experienced zoologist should spend the main working time like that. I would like to break this type of research life, at least, for myself and try to earn for the study and family life via wildlife-tripping together with my wife Irina Rotenko. Such trips are a lot targeted on the main subjects of my study i.e. the wolf and lynx (see wolfing.info). As to sharing research results with colleagues, we chose to write books and make them available free on the Web. It seems to be a good alternative way and stats of reads supports such a choice a lot". He is also an author of several books: Naliboki Forest: Wild animals (2016) Analysis of Vertebrate Predator-prey Community (2011) Naliboki Forest: Historical outline and ethnographical sketch (2016) Guide to mammal and bird activity signs (2009) The Art Of Tracking Animals (2010) Mammal activity signs: Atlas, identification keys and research methods: Skills gained in Belarus (2013) Naliboki Forest: Land and Plant Communities. (2016) mother wolf flees den from male lynx   "One well traced and documented example was quite impressive, at least, for us. In Naliboki Forest in the late April of 2017 in wolf pack consisting of 3 pregnant females and 2 adult males (a case of multiple breeding in a wolf pack) there were born three litters. During two weeks all three litters were extirpated by one big male lynx. Applying camera traps, we documented the appearance of the male lynx at the wolf burrows with pups. In one case there was the mother wolf at the den, but, when it detected the lynx, it escaped, permitting for the lynx to kill the pups." Lynx visiting active wolf den   "In particular, I compared the wolf number, portion of pups in the local wolf population in November-December (when pups are still recognisable), patterns of pack forming in October-January (parents with pups or subordinating, i.e. a strong wolf has subordinated other wolves that ranged around). In 2008-2012 in Naliboki Forest and its forest-agriculture surroundings in the area about 2700 km2, there were 51-70 wolves in early winter. The portion of pups of the year (0+) was 25-44% and 86% packs were of family-origin (perhaps, some of such packs included a few non-relative subordinated individuals). In 2015-2017 in Naliboki Forest and its forest-agriculture surroundings, there were 40-44 wolves in early winter. The portion of pups of the year (0+) was 14-18% and the majority of the packs (at least, 63%) were entirely or mainly of non-family origin, i.e. mainly consisted of non-relative subordinated individuals. Thus, in 2008-2012 the local wolf population in Naliboki Forest existed being supported by its reproduction, while nowadays in 2015-2017 it still exists due to the immigration of adult wolves during mating season. Why do the changes happen? Lynxes hunt for weakened wolves such as pups and heavily pregnant females. Thus, when lynx population reaches markedly greater number, the reproduction in wolves almost stops. We have already got enough proofs to say that". https://sidorovich.blog/2017/06/27/changes-in-wolf-reproduction-in-relation-to-lynx/ I emailed him regarding the weights of the wolves and lynxes in Belarus, the fight between the male lynx and wolf which presumably the wolf died afterwards and asked if there was any incidents at all of wolves killing lynxes. He replied:
I followed up asking about the the 3 adult female wolves killed by lynx. He replied:
Edited by k9boy, Dec 29 2017, 12:07 AM.
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| AiM4 | Dec 26 2017, 02:48 PM Post #2 |
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Autotrophic Organism
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This is pretty sad. But that is life, everything has a balance. Can't go against it. |
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| Taipan | Dec 26 2017, 04:21 PM Post #3 |
Administrator
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Awesome post K9Boy! I think we will have more respect for Lynx lynx! |
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| ImperialDino | Dec 26 2017, 10:33 PM Post #4 |
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Omnivore
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Wonder what happens when a male wolf and male lynx cross paths |
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| Mammuthus | Dec 26 2017, 10:47 PM Post #5 |
Proboscidean Enthusiast
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A male Grey wolf is significantly larger than a male Lynx so I recon the Lynx would general avoid the Wolf, but Lynx are feisty little things so you never know.. |
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| k9boy | Dec 27 2017, 02:43 AM Post #6 |
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Apex Predator
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"adult male wolf plausibly died being wounded after a fight with a male lynx (Naliboki Forest, April 2017)" |
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| Ryo | Dec 27 2017, 03:20 AM Post #7 |
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Omnivore
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I have given up trying to figure out how impressive it is to kill an "Eurasian Wolf". Some people talk about them as the largest Wolf subspecies (I doubt this however, with the only possible exception being the Skandinavian Wolves) and others I have seen to like bashing them for their "small size". Regardless, if a Lynx killed a Wolf slightly smaller than it, I'd give it credit for that. Same size as well and of course also if it were larger. I hope they weighed the male Wolf, because if it were an average Wolf and a large Lynx then their sizes nearly overlap. Tho this story sorta tells me the same as the Bobcat and the Pitbull. I am under the impression that the damage caused by the cats are fatal in the long run due to the claws, but in an interspecies conflict as on this forum, this long term damage might not be a very important factor. |
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| k9boy | Dec 27 2017, 03:48 AM Post #8 |
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Apex Predator
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europe is a huge place, you can't put the eurasian wolves size into one category. some will be bigger, some will be smaller depending on the environment you can see by the camera trap photos not only on here but the website, that the wolves are bigger, not by a huge amount though Edited by k9boy, Dec 27 2017, 03:52 AM.
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| Ryo | Dec 27 2017, 04:39 AM Post #9 |
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Omnivore
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The Wolf was bigger indeed, but I have often suspected that many of the medium and large sized cats would have a better chance of weighing more when close in visual size to Wolves, and thus the Lynx mighy actually nearly be "larger" depending of you use visual or weight. Tho the Lynx isn't exactly a bulky cat, so I don't know to which extent it would weigh when being pretty close visually to a Wolf.
Edited by Ryo, Dec 27 2017, 04:41 AM.
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| Warsaw2014 | Dec 27 2017, 06:03 AM Post #10 |
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Herbivore
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looks like Jack London was right "Lynxes are portrayed as the ultimate fighters that appear in the book" http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Literature/WhiteFang?from=Film.WhiteFang BTW "White Fang", was one of my most favourite books in my childhood. |
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| k9boy | Dec 27 2017, 06:20 AM Post #11 |
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Apex Predator
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jack london exaggerated alot. he was likely talking about a canadian lynx, which would be a snack for a wolf. He also talked about a dog killing a black bear in call of the wild. Eurasian lynxes are alot more formidable, they are more like larger bobcats. Edited by k9boy, Dec 27 2017, 06:20 AM.
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| Warsaw2014 | Dec 27 2017, 06:58 AM Post #12 |
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Herbivore
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I agree with that. .  Encounter and fight between an adult male lynx and an adult male wolf. The fight took place at an important marking point and grooming place of the male lynx on an abandoned forest road. The lynx won and plausibly the wolf died afterwards from his wounds. Edited by Warsaw2014, Dec 27 2017, 07:10 AM.
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| Ryo | Dec 27 2017, 09:48 AM Post #13 |
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Omnivore
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Didn't the fight last so shortly that there was barely any pics taken of it? I'd doubt the Wolf would die of its injuries in that short amount of time. I recall some here suspecting the Wolf to be a bit young. Tho the outcome itself doesn't suprise me that much since the size difference between them seems rather small. |
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| k9boy | Dec 27 2017, 10:13 AM Post #14 |
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Apex Predator
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"Moreover, we got convinced that an adult lynx β especially a big male β can win a fight from any lone wolf. We photo-documented a fight between a not very big and quite old male lynx (older than 8 years) and a (not small) adult male wolf. The lynx threw the wolf on its back, attacking itβs belly. Obviously the lynx won the fight and most likely the wolf died from his injuries. Before the fight we photographed this easily recognizable wolf frequently, a few hours after the fight the clearly wounded wolf was photographed one more last time" |
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| Grazier | Dec 27 2017, 10:37 AM Post #15 |
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Omnivore
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That was one of the least convincing things I've read. That whole blog "article" seemed to be an exercise in stretching the facts to put lynx over wolves, I genuinely thought it was written by someone from here. On the other hand, IMO its "plausible" an individual adult male lynx could develop a confidence and technique and become somewhat of an expert at killing wolves. Its possible, and would certainly catch the wolves off guard. Generally however lynx, of all varieties, definitely defer to wolves. Even mountain lions would generally defer to wolves. Leopards definitely defer to hyenas. But again, you occasionally get these exceptions. An individual mature male that at some point just decides "you know what, I think I can kill these things" and then breaks the mold and acquires an unusual habit. Its interesting, but IMO people get way too excited about it, and these isolated cases become seen as the norm, which is unfair, because every time a wolf or hyena MIGHT have won the cat completely avoided the conflict, so you get these skewed results cherry picked by the felines. |
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