There are four large carnivore species in Finland, all belonging to different families. The lynx is a feline, the wolf is a canine, the brown bear is from the family Ursus and the wolverine is from the family of weasels.
The lynx (Lynx lynx) is the only wild feline in Finland. As a typical cat, it is the most consummate predator amongst all large carnivores. Its diet consists almost exclusively of mammals and birds. In the olden days, any talk about the lynx was likely to focus on its valuable fur.
In the Middle Ages, the beautiful spotted fur of the lynx was a highly desirable and quite expensive luxury item in Scandinavia and Central Europe. Fur hunters could get their full year’s wages from selling just one pelt. In those days, people believed that there was no adversity so great that the beautiful pelt of a lynx could not make up for it.
A lynx in summer coat. Photo: Hannu Huttu
Lynx. Photo: Lassi Rautiainen.
In its appearance, the lynx is a typical cat. In summer, its coat has a reddish grey tone, but in the winter it turns a greyish white. The coat has brown or black spots and streaks, but some individuals have almost no spots. The legs of the lynx are longer in proportion than those of the domestic cat, and the back legs are longer than the front ones. Like all felines, the lynx has the ability to retract its claws completely. The lynx uses its claws for hunting, climbing trees or when walking on a slippery surface. While claw marks can usually not be seen in its tracks, they may be visible when the lynx has been walking in soft snow.The lynx is the most predator-like of our large predators. In the summer the lynx's coat is a reddish grey but in the winter it turns into a grey-white colour. The fur has brown or black spots and streaks in it. The lynx's legs are relatively longer than those of domestic cats and it has the ability to withdraw its claws like other felines. It uses its claws when hunting and climbing trees. Generally the claws are not visible in the lynx's tracks, but it might use its claws for additional support on hard snow.
Lynx caterwaul
The lynx leaves tracks that are typical of felines. The lynx has four toes that are visible in its tracks. The digital pads on the lynx's paw look small and round, sometimes they even resemble thin fingertips. When it moves the lynx keeps its sharp claws inside the paws, except in certain special ca...
The lynx is a nimble and stealthy predator. As a feline the lynx can see in the dark. Their eyes are large and their corneas are mirror-like. The lynx's hearing is very well developed, unlike its sense of smell, and it locates its prey primarily by hearing and sight.
The lynx is a carnivore. Its list of prey animals is very long and encompasses everything from small rodents and birds to deer and reindeer. Hares and white-tailed deer are the lynx's preferred prey animals and in Lapland the lynx also eats a lot of reindeer. The lynx's teeth are not very well-suite...
The Finnish lynx population has become stronger since the lynx became a protected species and it has now spread to the entire country. The size of the lynx's territory varies between 100 and 1 000 square kilometres. Male lynxes have larger territories than females and the territories of male lynxes ...
The management plan for the Finnish lynx population was approved in 2006. The plan defines the guidelines by which the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry continues the systematic management of the lynx population. The aim of the management plan is to establish and secure the lynx as a permanent fi...
The views held by Finns are sometimes conflicting when it comes to the population management and conservation of large carnivores. Research has been conducted on how Finns think our large carnivore populations should be managed. This data has been collected via surveys, interviews and public meeting...
Large carnivore populations are increasing in numbers and spreading to new areas in Europe, thanks to the conservation measures that have been taken. This has aroused considerable interest in large carnivores but also given rise to some concern and public debate.