Abstract

The Norwegian Environment Agency and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency have developed joint Scandinavian guidelines and instructions for the monitoring of lynx, which have been in use since the winter of 2013/2014. Monitoring of the lynx population size and population trends in Scandinavia is primarily conducted through a survey of family groups (adult female lynx with dependent kittens). The number of family groups is estimated every year based on confirmed observations of family groups (tracks in snow, sightings, pictures or dead kittens). The monitoring is largely based on local participation. Observations such as snow tracks are often found by locals who in turn report these to the State Nature Inspectorate (SNO) in Norway and the county administrative boards in Sweden, which are responsible for the follow-up and confirmation of observations in the field. The number of family groups is estimated using a set of distance rules derived from radio-telemetry data on home range size and movement rates collected from lynx in Scandinavia, or by distinguishing different family groups in the field. In 2019/2020, 256 family groups of lynx were found in Scandinavia. 66.5 family groups were registered in Norway and 189.5 family groups were registered in Sweden. Based on these numbers the Norwegian population is estimated to about 393 lynx (95 % CI = 326–460). 189.5 family groups in Sweden corresponds to a population of about 1118 lynx (95 % CI = 945–1292). The 256 family groups in Scandinavia thus correspond to a population of about 1511 lynx (95 % CI = 1271–1752).

Keywords

Eurasian lynx; Lynx lynx; monitoring; population trends; Scandinavia

Published in

Bestandsstatus for store rovdyr i Skandinavia
2020, number: 2020:2
eISBN: 978-82-426-4610-1
Publisher: Viltskadecenter, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet

SLU Authors

• Frank, Jens

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

Wildlife Damage Centre


UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology


Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/109597