Efficacy of lures and hair snares to detect lynx

Abstract

Resource managers lack an inexpensive and quantifiable method to detect lynx presence across large landscapes. We tested efficacy of a protocol based on hair snagging to detect presence of lynx (Lynx canadensis). We tested 2 key elements of the protocol: 1) a hair-snaring device and 2) commercial lures used to attract and elicit rubbing behavior in lynx. The commercial lures we tested included: 1) beaver (Castor canadensis) castoreum and catnip oil, 2) Cat Passion, 3) Pacific Call, 4) Hawbacker's Cat lure #1) and 5) BB1. To compare detection rates among lures, we randomly placed lures at scent stations along 78 transects; each transect contained all 5 lures. We detected lynx at 45% of transects, and detections varied significantly among lures (x2/4= 13.4, P=0.009}. Hair snares baited with castoreum and catnip oil were used significantly more than expected (P= 0.002). The relatively high overall detection rate demonstrated that deploying an effective lure along transects is an effective method to detect presence or absence.

Citation

McDaniel, Gregory W.; McKelvey, Kevin S.; Squires, John R.; Ruggiero, Leonard F. 2000. Efficacy of lures and hair snares to detect lynx. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 28(1): 119-123.