Weather - Wild animals also suffer from the masses of snow in southern Bavaria
The enormous amounts of snow in the south of Bavaria are also causing problems for some wild animals. Deer are finding it harder to get food because of the snow, says Andreas Zahn, species conservation expert at the Bund Naturschutz and chairman of the Mühldorf am Inn district group. "Because of the cold, they need more energy to survive. That's why they need to rest at low temperatures and move as little as possible."
Owls and falcons find it more difficult to catch mice in deep snow, as Zahn explains. Mice, on the other hand, can survive well under the snow and feed on roots or herbs, for example. At the same time, the snow cover offers them protection from birds of prey. For kingfishers, too, the search for food becomes more difficult in winter, says Andreas Zahn: they feed on fish and other aquatic animals. If the ponds and lakes are frozen over for a long time, the kingfishers can no longer reach their prey.
As the Landesbund für Vogel- und Naturschutz(LBV) reports, the harsh onset of winter in parts of Bavaria has also taken birdlife by surprise. Many migratory birds stayed longer and longer in Bavaria due to the increasingly mild weather in the fall and winter or even decided not to travel south at all, explains LBV bird expert Angelika Nelson. However, it is now more difficult to find food due to the large amounts of snow and ice.
On the other hand, migratory movements from northern or eastern Europe to Bavaria can be observed in winter, reports Andreas Zahn from the Bund Naturschutz: "For example, waxwings come to us in winter." This is because the winter here is relatively mild compared to Scandinavia or Eastern Europe, where the largest breeding areas and habitats of the waxwing are located.
The great egret can often be seen in meadows in winter, says Zahn. There it hunts for mice. In addition to mice, insects, amphibians and fish are also part of the great egret's diet. In Germany, it is mainly considered a winter visitor. Bats and hedgehogs, on the other hand, are not bothered by the current masses of snow in southern Bavaria - they have already retreated into caves and are hibernating.
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- Despite the challenges posed by the snow in Munich, a city located in Bavaria, bats and hedgehogs remain unaffected due to their hibernation in caves.
- The federal nature conservation in Munich has noted an unusual occurrence of migratory birds from northern or eastern Europe, seeking refuge due to the mild weather compared to their native lands.
- The huge snow mass in nature reserves across Bavaria poses a significant threat to various animal species, particularly wildlife like deer and kingfishers, as they struggle to find food during the winter season.
- The nature conservation organization in Mühldorf am Inn, Bavaria, has raised concerns about the impact of extensive snowfall on animals, including owls and falcons, which struggle to hunt for prey in the deep snow.
Source: www.stern.de
