Landscape and animals

Landscape and animals

The animals of the Cantalian volcano are determined by two major factors. One is geographic, the other is due to the various environments of the Massif. Wolves and golden eagle no longer exist in the Massif but many other animals live there.

Animals of the Forest

The Massif forests provide food and shelter for many animals, notably the large herbivores. Roe deer are abundant in all the woods, but the red deer population is limited. Some groups are present around Puy Mary and in the Bois Noir, but the largest population, some thirty individuals, live in the forest of Chalinargues. In October the bellowing can easily be heard.

Badgers and foxes dig their burrows between the roots of the beech trees. These can be impressive by their size and complexity. Less common is the marten that chases the squirrels. The lesser spotted woodpecker is increasing in numbers in the Auvergne. The rare protected longhorn beetle ‘rosalia Alpina’ with long grey and black antennae lives here. Common birds of prey such as the sparrow hawk, goshawk and tawny owl live in the forests.

Mixed or pure coniferous forests favour the tits, crested, coal and long tailed for example, and wrens and crossbills. The forests serve equally well for a nocturnal and winter refuge for mouflons around l’Arpon du Diable and chamois in the Falgoux forest under Roc d’Hozière.

Several reptiles live in the mountains. The small, slow and inoffensive viviparous lizard has adapted to the mountain by becoming oviparous, which means that the young mature inside an egg. It feeds on crickets whose populations reach impressive densities.

Above 1000m lives the asp and peliade viper, which sometimes feeds on snow voles on the mountain in winter. The yellow and green grass snake and the viperine live below 1500m.

Walking in the Cantal for information on walking and walks in France and the Cantal, accommodation, food and wine.
Walking in France for information on France and GR footpaths.
Auvergne active Self guided walking holidays in the Cantal
Hôtel des Chazes - 2Star and Les Sources - Table & Chambre d'Hôte, St Jacques des Blats. Both excellent bases from which to explore the Cantal.
Monts d'Auvergne-Auvergne Hills for a description and pictures of the area, with suggested walks.
Éditions Chamina for walking guides in the Massif Central.

Classic Geology in Auvergne by Peter Cattermole ISBN 1-903544-05-x available from Blackwells