Part predator, part banshee—what lurks in Estonia?
And last call to add to our February FUZZ funds conservation donation
By Dan Fletcher
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After two weeks traversing Mongolia's vast eastern steppe, I've traded boundless grasslands and brilliant blue skies for the pine-scented forests of Estonia. And while the manul remained frustratingly elusive during my journey across Central Asia, I'm now pursuing another secretive feline that's considerably larger, faster and more powerful — the Eurasian lynx.
Hidden within Estonia's Lahemaa National Park is one of Europe's most robust populations of these magnificent cats. While they've vanished from much of their historic range across Western Europe, Estonia stands as a rare conservation success story, with approximately 500-600 lynx thriving across the country — and Lahemaa serves as their fortress.
The timing of my visit is deliberate. Late February marks the peak of lynx breeding season, when these typically silent ghosts of the forest become uncharacteristically vocal. Males roam widely in search of females, leaving distinctive tracks in the snow and filling the night with haunting calls that sound almost otherworldly — part wild cat, part banshee.
At up to 66 pounds, the Eurasian lynx dwarfs its North American cousins. While Canada's lynx specialize in hunting snowshoe hares, these European heavyweights can take down full-grown roe deer. Their impressive size doesn't make them any easier to spot, however. In fact, many Estonians have lived their entire lives without glimpsing one, despite the country's healthy population.
What makes Estonia's lynx success particularly remarkable is that it's happened in one of Europe's most densely forested yet accessible countries. Just a 45-minute drive from Tallinn's medieval city center, Lahemaa National Park offers nearly 185,000 acres of pristine habitat – a mosaic of old-growth forests, coastal wetlands, and bogs that provide perfect hunting grounds for these ambush predators.
The park's creation in 1971 (while Estonia was still under Soviet control) preserved critical corridors that allow lynx to move freely between hunting territories. When Estonia regained independence, conservation policies actually strengthened rather than weakened. A hunting moratorium implemented in 2013 allowed populations to rebound from historical lows, and today's careful management maintains a delicate balance between thriving wildlife and human needs.
I'll be joining expert trackers next week, following pawprints through snow-laden forests and staking out areas where these tufted-eared predators frequently patrol. The odds of frequent sightings remain slim — these cats are masters of invisibility — but evidence of their presence is everywhere if you know where to look.
While Mongolia's manul represents a struggle for survival against increasing threats, Estonia's lynx offers hope for large carnivore conservation in Europe. Against all odds, these magnificent cats are reclaiming their role as apex predators — outside of humans, the wolf is their only real threat — across the Baltic states, proving that with careful protection and management, even elusive predators can thrive alongside human development.
More from the park when I set out on Saturday. For the rest of this week, I’m enjoying the sights around Tallinn, including one very welcome one after my time in the steppe — flush toilets. 🥰
Last call for February conservation funding 💵
As February winds down, we're preparing to make our second conservation donation with the $220 currently in our FUZZ Funds account (thanks to our recent annual members whose support I'm spreading evenly across the year). Remember, every penny of your paid subscription goes directly to protecting wildlife, with no overhead or administrative costs—that's what makes FUZZ different.
Here's my challenge: Let's boost this month's fund before Friday's vote! For every new paid subscriber who joins before Monday, I'll personally add an extra $25 to this month's conservation pool. Your subscription doesn't just contribute its own amount—it leverages additional support for wildlife protection.
Paid subscribers get to vote on exactly where the funds go, giving you direct input on which conservation efforts receive support. FUZZ Founders can even nominate worthy organizations for consideration—just email me at dan@fuzz.net with your suggestions. Ready to turn your love of wildlife into real-world action?
Quick links! 🔗
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