Research overview: Eurasian lynx predation on roe deer in Europe

An overview of the predator-prey relationship between Eurasian lynx and roe deer, the lynx's principal prey across much of temperate Europe. Lynx are efficient solitary ambush hunters of small ungulates, and in many European forests roe deer dominate their diet, with lynx predation forming a significant and sometimes limiting source of roe deer mortality that intersects with hunting interests. This survey synthesizes kill-rate and prey-selection studies, how lynx select roe deer by age, sex and condition, and the implications for roe deer management and lynx conservation in human-dominated landscapes. It connects to the classic Bialowieza work and to debates over lynx effects on game species. The topic illustrates felid predation ecology in temperate multi-use landscapes where carnivore recovery meets hunting traditions.