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Project Noah Nature School
Cervus elaphus
I believe these are the traces of Red Deer, made when they feed on bark in early summer. I believe I can see some traces of teeth (Photo N° 1 and 2). The tree is located on the slope, under the pathway; the bark is stripped starting on about 1m25 of height from the ground, and the total surface is about 75cm long and some 40 across at it's largest point.
Seen on lower to mid-level slopes of Jura Mountain Range, at about 700m of altitude, on the side descending towards Geneva lake valley. Slopes are covered by a dense mixed forest, mainly oak, beech and spruce.
1.) When I finally settled on my ID, it was based on my recent readings: In The Delachaux Guide of Animal Traces, by Lars-Henrik Olsen, I've found the following quotes: "In spring, red deer may bark young conifers, stripping the bark into large patches." and "In winter, when the bark is very sticky, the deer gnaw on it, leaving the marks of its lower incisors on the wood." 2.) The Red Deer, having quite patchy distribution in France these days, is quite common in Jura Mountain Range, due to it's preserved forests. I already spotted them few times, and documented it twice on Project NOAH (both times this year): https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/40... and https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/55...
Spotted on Apr 25, 2021
Submitted on Dec 11, 2021
1 Comment
That's a cool and interesting find!