Animal tracking in Germany

A few years ago I spent a few weeks in Germany and only came across the photos today while sorting out the office. As anyone who knows me knows, I canny go anywhere without nosing into what natural history is on offer. As the snow was still deep and there is a much greater range of animals there than here, it wasn't long before things started to show up

Woodpecker damage to birdbox, Triberg


Common Vole runs and burrows, Black Forest


Hazelnuts munched by Common Voles, Black Forest


Hazelnuts munched by Wood mice, Black Forest


Red squirrels outside hostel on first morning (rubbish pic), Baden-Baden


Roe deer tracks in the Black Forest


Adder and Fire salamander info at a visitor centre in the Black Forest...if only I'd went a month later. Glad of being a geek and knowing Latin names at this point as my German was - and still is - pants to say the least



Roe deer damage to base of tree, Black Forest


Mammal claw marks high up a fir tree in the Black Forest - Lynx? Wolverine? The jury is still out on this one


Damage done to pine by Three-toed woodpecker, Baden-Baden



Hazelnuts munched by Great Spotted woodpecker, Baden-Baden


European Wall lizard (slight cheat here - it was on display in a nature centre), Black Forest


Stone Marten tracks in snow, Black Forest

Alpine Ibex tracks in snow, Laber Mountain, Bavaria


Alpine Chough scrounging food, Oberammergau, Bavaria



European Lynx scratching post, nature reserve near Reutte, Austria


Otter tracks in snow, nature reserve near Reutte, Austria


Toad crossing sign and road barrier - how environmentally conscious is this!

These next few photos are kinda cheating.....they were taken in a small but impressive nature reserve just north of Hamm. Most of the animals were European natives too which was nice as they could be viewed up close

Wild boar sow and piglets


Piglets - how cute are these!


European Lynx basking



Dor beetle and burrows

Brilliant

OMG, Karl, how cool are you? I couldn't tell my Wolverine track or markings from my elbow if my life depended on it and cheating or not those images are fantastic. LYNX, holy moly, such a magnificent cat. Are two of the piglets getting jiggy with it (hehe, how childish am I)? They really are adorable aren't they, you'd never guess they grow into what they do.

The Toad crossing is simply excellent. Nice to see even the smaller creatures get consideration too. Too much to comment on but this is my fave thread of late without a doubt

Did you see any Eagles or birds of pray? I remember seeing so many it made me dizzy with excitement, oh and Igel too

Hehehe Tan, I don't know how you spot these things! They are super cute, the boar was actually throwing them around a bit too - he was pretty harsh with everything LOL.

There were plenty of rators alright - Buzzard (lost count, they were everywhere); Kestrel (2nd most common raptor); Sparrowhawk; Goshawk; Red kite (in Bavaria); Tawny owl (went into the Black Forest one night and listened to several calling), and 2 Golden Eagles (both in Bavaria).

Crackin pic's Karl. Love the Lynx and the Red

Are them piglets cute or not?