Once resident in Scotland, the lynx is thought to have become extinct in the UK during the medieval period around 1,300 years ago.

They have short bodies, long legs and large feet, as well as sharp, hooked claws, distinctive triangular ears with black tufts at the tip, and a short black-tipped tail. They are spotted cats, with long light-coloured fur which gets shorter and thinner in the summer.

The Trust believes that there is both a moral and ecological case for reintroducing lynx to Scotland – find out more here.

Behaviour

Medium-sized cats, they are the third largest predator in Europe after the brown bear and the wolf. Solitary and elusive, they typically hunt at night and stealthily avoids humans, so they are rarely seen. These large predatory cats will normally feed on deer, mountain hares and other small mammals.

Size

• Length: 3 foot (1m)
• Weight: 18-27kg, males larger than females.
• Average lifespan: 10-15 years.

Status

Extinct in the UK.

Distribution

Can be found in the temperate and boreal forests of Central, Northern and Eastern Europe, to Siberia and Central Asia.

When to see

All year round where present.

Facts

• They have very good eyesight and can spot a mouse up to 250 feet (75 metres) away. They also have an excellent sense of hearing.
• Some scientists believe that their ear tufts act like whiskers and that they use these to detect movements close by.