Winter Prey Selection of Canada Lynx in Northwestern Montana

摘要: The roles that diet and prey abundance play in habitat selection of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) the contiguous United States is poorly understood. From 1998–2002, we back-tracked radiocollared (6 F, 9 M) for a distance 582 km located 86 kills northwestern Montana, USA. Lynx preyed on 7 species included blue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus), spruce (Canachites canadensis), northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus), red (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), least weasel (Mustela nivalis), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Snowshoe hares (69 kills) accounted 96% (4-yr average, range = 94–99%) biomass during sample period. Red squirrels were second-most-common (11 kills), but they only provided 2% winter diet. contributed little to despite low densities. A logistic regression model hare, squirrel, abundance, as indexed by number track crossings use available back-tracks, was significant (Wald statistic 19.03, df 3, P < 0.001) predictor use. As expected, (P selected use-areas with higher compared random expectation. However, index had weak 0.087) negative relationship use, nonsignificant 0.432). Our results indicate western Montana almost exclusively alternative prey. Thus, reductions horizontal cover would degrade habitat.