Grazing animals and wild animals in peaceful co-existence

Year-round grazing is fundamentally in harmony with native wildlife populations. Scientific studies have shown that the population of small game such as hare, partridge, fox, etc. is often higher on areas of year-round grazing projects than in the neighbouring, non-grazed area.

Deer also often fare better on grazed areas and benefit from the food supply compared to unmaintained and scrubby areas.

The new grazing fences built in September 2019, as well as the existing ones at the Kienberg Ark Park, are of a design and height that will not present an obstacle, especially to adult deer. They either jump over the fence or pass under the hollow space between the gate and the ground (traces of this have already been found). Young animals or mothers carrying young animals also have sufficient possibilities to enter and leave the area in peace due to the free space under the gates. Especially the area directly at the Wuhletal offers further possibilities for the animals to enter and leave the area due to the partly open fence design at the shallow water zone.

In the area of the existing fences, a peaceful coexistence of grazing and wild animals has been observed over recent years. For example, a young buck, now fully grown, is regularly seen in the grazing areas above the Wuhleteich.

The deer also seem to enjoy seeking out the protection of the grazing fences, as there are no free-roaming dogs for the animals to worry about in that area. The number of grazing animals is so small that competition between deer and grazing animals cannot occur in the existing fenced area.