|
Fauna. This means all the animals to be found in the cross-border biosphere reserve. Certain animals are symbols, since they are rare, and sometimes difficult to observe. The lynx is a member of the cat family, like the wildcat. It usually
lives in very large forests. It is the biggest carnivore in our
region, feeding mainly on roe deer. It is a solitary animal, occupying
a large territory, and often moves around the forest massif between
France and Germany. This is a cross-border species
!
|
| Tengalm's owl,
like the peregrine falcon, is a bird of prey. But it is a nocturnal
bird of prey - it hunts and is active mainly at night. Tengalm's owl
is typical of cold mountain forests and of the north of Europe. It
is found, exceptionally, in the bottoms of valleys of the Vosges du
Nord and Pfalz, at an altitude of only 250 m. The peregrine falcon is a bird of prey, like the eagle. It nests on sandstone rocks. It needs very quiet surroundings to reproduce and raise its young - its survival depends upon it. It is active during the day: it is a diurnal bird of prey. It feeds on birds which it catches while in full flight. |
|
© Jean-François Schneider |
The greater mouse-eared bat is a type of bat. Not so long ago, these animals frightened people, and were therefore hunted. Like all animals, they play an important ecological role. They are predators, hunting insects. In the cross-border biosphere reserve, they reproduce in colonies in the lofts of large buildings, such as churches and big houses. Today all bats are protected by law. |
| Gomphus serepentinus is a very rare species of dragonfly. It lives near waterways of very high quality. The larvae live on the sandy bottom, where the current is fast flowing. Like the adults, they are carnivores. They feed on insects and small aquatic creatures. |
|
