Winter wildlife

[RussT]

Looking at the Bergerie webcam today I can see the first animal tracks in the snow.

I often see animal tracks, but very rarely see the animals:
I saw a mouse on Arpette in January 2012, a chamois on piste at Plagne 1800 in December 2007, some Marmots in late spring.
There are plenty of birds - even up at the glacier - some medium sized black birds and some small grey birds that hang around the resort and an occasional bird of prey in the Champagny area.

What are the other animals of winter?
Is there a special time to see them?
Does anyone have any photos?

[Malko]

In this period, the traces are those of a "dahut"!

[plaisances 403]

But , at Montalbert there are my wife and me !

[Bozelet']

In ski resorts mountain wild animals are scarcely seen as they avoid human settlings even more during winter for they have to spare energy because of very poor ressources. Best chance to see them is at night hiding in surrounding forests, otherwise you'll have to get away from ski resorts to see them during the day maybe for example in Peisey valley - another famous spot is Champagny le haut.

Mouses stay around piste restaurants as they can find restfood from tourists in winter, and from leftover goods in caves in summer when the owner forgets to close tight food supplies... The black crows are named "chocard" or "choucas" ('jackdaw') and other small birds are used to hang around piste restaurant terrasse, in order to pick up left food after day's closure. I saw once foxes foraging in public bins at the top of skilifts, sorting all the trash out to find food, such a mess !!

Chamois stay close to and inside the forest during winter : they're the wildest. "Mouflons" (kind of wild sheep with circular horns) do the same but can get lower down, sometimes in the villages looking for food : a few were to be seen as I did two years ago, inside Champagny le Bas... We also have a kind of wild goat called "bouquetin" ('Ibex') with nice big horns, that has been preserved with national Vanoise parc : see my pics in Pralognan last year http://wp.me/p2ogWi-88

You have seen birds of prey : it may have been royal eagles, or "gypaete barbu" bearded vulture. Another nice feature, very scarcely seen, is the "blanchot" rabbit that turns white in autumn to hide from predators in snow. The "Lagopède" protected bird do the same.

Lower down in the forest you can also find boars, deers, squirrels ...

[RussT]

Thanks - very interesting !
Bozelet' - fantastic photos - I love them.
Here are some of my photos from summer - including a couple of wildlife ones:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/russell_to ... 658171986/

I'll also keep a lookout for "dahut", "yeti" and "wild haggis"

RussT

[Mick]

Great pictures RussT

If you agree to publish certain freely on the forum, I invite you to read the message from Asarski yesterday here... in order to publish in the new wallpaper space

Thanks

[Bozelet']

No airbag or Arva... see how fast these chamois run to escape from a spring avalanche in Pralognan :

http://youtu.be/5SCB0CERz0o

(not in the Alps) Snow diving Yellowstone foxes...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP15zlyra3c

[RussT]

Thanks for the videos - I'm amazed that those last four chamois escaped !