Using video surveillance to monitor feeding behaviour and kleptoparasitism at Eurasian lynx kill sites

Abstract

Recent technological developments in non-invasive methods facilitate study of the behaviour of elusive predators. We used two types of automatic digital video surveillance systems in combination with GPS telemetry to record feeding behaviour of wild Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), intraspecific prey sharing and scavenger activity at ungulate kill sites in the Dinaric Mountains. This approach proved an effective and mostly non-invasive way to obtain detailed data on the consumption of prey by lynx and kleptoparasites, especially when the advanced video system was used. Lynx spent a considerable amount of time in the vicinity of the kill site, but usually visited the carcass for feeding only once per night with a mean visit time of 35 min and most of the feeding occurred during the first half of the night. Lynx covered 83 % of prey remains, which seemed to be effective against avian scavengers that only found 17 % of the carcasses. We recorded six vertebrate species scavenging on lynx kills, with red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and brown bear (Ursus arctos) being the most frequent kleptoparasites. Based on our results, we provide recommendations for future research using this method, as well as outlining the pros and cons of advanced vs. simple video systems.