Time of activity of a female free-ranging Lynx (Lynx lynx) with young kittens in Slovenia

We investigated the activity behaviour and time-budget of a female free-ran ging lynx (Lynx lynx) in Slovenia during the first five months of post-part um from June-October 1995. Activity was monitored by means of a radio-colla r with activity sensor, employing continuous automatic recording and discon tinuous time-sampling. A total of 1818 data hours was analysed with respect to the prey status, distinguishing between days with and without kill, and age of the kittens. On average the female was active for 8.5 h per 24-h da y. Activity at twilight and during daytime was generally higher than during night. On days when the female hunted she was more active and more diurnal than on days when she had access to a kill. During the later post-partum m obile phase the female covered a considerably larger home range, was much m ore active, and showed higher twilight and daytime activity than during the earlier stationary phase. Movements to and from a kill occurred irregularl y throughout the night during the stationary phase, while the whole family went to a kill around sunset and returned back around sunrise during the mo bile phase. When a kill was available, the female spent on average 81% of t he 24-h day with her kittens, but only 63% on days with no kill. Times of a bsence from the den did not increase during the stationary phase as the kit tens grew older. Activity timing is interpreted as a highly differential te mporal adaptation to meet various contrasting challenges, i.e., hunting, de fence of kills against competitors, protection of young, and home range pat rolling. Comparison with data from Switzerland suggest that habitat structu re in addition is likely to shape lynx activity in different areas.