Possible effects of the capture event on subsequent space use of Eurasian lynx

Use of radiotelemetry may affect the behavior pattern of an animal and thus the usefulness of telemetry data. Therefore, in 1994-1996, we investigated subsequent use of capture patches (i.e., a circular area around a capture site with a radius equal to the mean minimum daily distance moved by the ly nx in question) for 9 Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx). We wanted to investigate p ossible effects of the capture event (i.e., the process of capturing, proce ssing, and releasing a lynx) on subsequent movement patterns of captured an imals. Use of capture patches relative to use of other equally sized, rando mly selected patches of similar habitat within the home range did not diffe r. The only possible effect on the telemetry data from this study was the s ignificantly (P=0.028) longer time before lynx returned to the capture patc h compared to other parches. This may result from a combination of a tempor ary effect of the capture event, effects of seasonal changes, and changes i n the age and status of the animal in question. Further studies on effect o f the capture event on the subsequent movement patterns of wild animals sho uld concentrate on use of recapture patches before and after recapture, as this approach Will allow comparison of use of capture patches before and af ter a capture event.