The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is a top predator in Slovenia and thus directly and indirectly influences various ecological relationships. In 2021, lynx were reintroduced to the Julian Alps, which enabled us to monitor lynx ecology in a previously unstudied area using GPS telemetry. The aim of this study was to determine the structure of lynx prey and identify scavengers feeding on lynx kills in the Julian Alps, and to compare these findings with data from the Slovenian Dinaric Mountains. We used algorithms to detect clusters of GPS locations that indicated kill sites, which enabled us to compared search time and feeding time between the two study areas. Using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM), we analyzed habitat parameters of locations of lynx kills and compared them with available habitat conditions in the Julian Alps. Results showed significant differences in prey composition between the two study areas, with the most notable difference being the proportion of chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). Search time for prey in the Alps was 14,4 % shorter compared to the Dinaric Mountains, possibly due to the historical absence of lynx in the area and the consequent lack of anti-predator behavior in prey species. Feeding time at kill sites in the Alps was 14, 2% longer, likely due to lower kleptoparasitism rate of brown bears (Ursus arctos) on lynx kills in the Alps (3,4% of all recorded kills) compared to the Dinarics (46% of all recorded kills). In the Julian Alps, lynx selected higher altitudes and lower gradient slopes for hunting compared to the spectrum of available elevations and slopes. Offspring of translocated lynx did not show a preference for forested habitats when hunting, whereas translocated individuals preferred to hunt within or near forests, which was also reflected in differences in prey composition. This study is the first to comprehensively investigate lynx foraging behaviour in the Slovenian Alps. Our findings can serve as an important tool for game management planning and management of wildlife.
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