You will see this one very rarely here.

 

It looks like a cat, but it is much bigger, the lynx. You can recognize it not only by its cat-like appearance, but especially by its ears, which end in elongated "tufts", its whiskers and its stubby tail.

 

In earlier times, the lynx was native to much of central and northern Europe until it was exterminated by humans. At the end of the twentieth century, a project began to reintroduce the animal to Switzerland. That this was successful is shown by the fact that several specimens migrated from there to the Black Forest and are now native again. This has been reliably proven by evaluations of transmitter data and photo traps since 1998.

 

Lynx are generally very shy. With a body length of up to 1.20 meters and a maximum height of seventy centimeters, they reach the dimensions of a sheepdog. The rather short tail measures a maximum of 25 centimeters. Their weight can be up to 30 kilograms. They are active mainly at night and in the twilight phases. Their territories are of considerable size and can cover several hundred square kilometers, with males, also called cuds, roaming much further than females.

 

Lynx have individually differently colored, dense fur, which usually has sand, red or brown tones as the basic color, and is not infrequently spotted. There is a white patch on the ears, while the tip of the tail is always black.

 

Lynx prey on various animals, hares, rodents, fish, but also roes or even deer. They prefer to sneak up on their prey. Their excellent hearing is an advantage for them. Lynx can hear a mouse from 50 meters away as soon as it moves.

 

The number of lynx in Germany is quite small. It is between one and two hundred specimens. Lynx are endangered by the destruction and fragmentation of their habitat by agriculture and traffic routes. Thus, the lynx is on the Red List of animals threatened with extinction.