This is a progress report from one of the few field studies of lynx in North America, still underway. It has important implications for the status and conservation of lynx in the western U.S., because of its location in the southern Canadian Rockies of southeastern British Columbia. Because the findings are preliminary, the author does not wish to be cited. Thus, our excepts are limited to a few quotes from the report summary that describe some basic parameters of the study:

"Ten lynx have been radiocollared and monitored between 11/96 and 05/98, of which, size (3M, 3F) are known to be resident adults. Mean annual home ranges (90% adaptive kernal) to date are 280 km2 for males and 113 km2 for females. Evidence suggests that male-female overlap may be extensive in this population. Some home ranges straddle the undivided Highway 93, but not the Trans-Canada Highway. Occassional extra-territorial forays were made thoughout the year by all resident lynx, but more so from late February to early April. The annual mean daily linear movement for resident males and females was 4.0 km and 3.5 km respectively." (2)

"Movement routes and foraging habitats within home ranges have been sampled from 759 km of snow-tracking carried out to May, 1998. Lynx kills recorded to date have been of 72 snowshoe hares, 41 red squirrels, 7 flying squirrels, 4 pine marten, 4 spruce grouse, 4 meadow voles, 1 northern flicker and 4 unknown. One lynx scavenged a mule deer (which had presumably been road-killed) for at least two days before being usurped by wolves." (2)

"Preliminary findings suggest that there is presently low recruitment in this population relative to others studied. Three mature females captured in the early winter were without kittens, one of which exhibited short-term affinity to a presumed den site the following spring, but failed to produce kittens. Two kittens were confirmed within each of three family groups observed in early winter, 1997." (3)