Fauna

Where the forest becomes home, wild life finds its breath again

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The most important and representative species of the Serre forests is the Wolf(Canis lupus italicus), which has returned to recolonize this territory after several decades of absence. In second place among the mammals of the Serre, in terms of rarity and importance, is the Italian Deer, which became extinct within the territory around 1900 and was reintroduced to the park in 2022. In third place is the porcupine(Hystrix cristata).

This species was also officially given as nonexistent on the Serre and in Aspromonte by official zoology. Another important player in the Serre fauna is the Wild Cat(Felis silvestris). The marten (Martesmartes), is a tireless predator of the size of a domestic cat, similar to the more common marten. These are the four rarest mammals of the Greenhouse fauna. We now come to the most common and widespread ones.

First and foremost is the Wild Boar(Sus scrofa), the true protagonist of wild life in the Serre forests.

The Wild Boar prefers oak, chestnut, and beech forests, where it also feeds on acorns, chestnuts. Forest habitats, but alternating with open areas, the Badger(Meles meles) prefers instead.

Not too common now is the Hare native to our forests. The Hare is a shy and timid animal and inhabits mixed terrain, preferably in the plains where it feeds on grasses, rinds, twigs.
On the other hand, the Fox(Vulpes vulpes) is very common : it lives practically everywhere, digging its burrow in the earth and feeding on everything, not disdaining even the leftover food found in landfills.
Another predator of small animals is the Marten(Martes foina), similar to the marten. It does not disdain the attics of old buildings as dens, feeding on small mammals and birds but also, especially in autumn, on fruits and berries. Even smaller is the Weasel(Mustela nivalis), its small size and extraordinarily tapered shape also enabling it to chase rodents into burrows. Unmistakable, because of its black livery, is the Polecat(Mustela putorius), similar in size to the marten.

Then we have the Hedgehog(Erinaceus europaeus) widespread almost everywhere on the Greenhouses, in winter it generally hibernates in nests carved out of bushes. The Dormouse(Glis glis), the gray livery is its major distinguishing feature. The Quercus(Eliomys quercinus) is another small rodent that feeds on many things, including insects, snails, eggs and bird chicks : it builds its nest in walls, trees or among rocks. Finally, a rodent with almost entirely arboreal habits is the Hazel Fly(Muscardinus avellanarius). Of course, other small mammals live on the Greenhouses such as the Mole(European Mole), the Dwarf Shrew(Sorex minutus), the Common Shrew(Sorex araneus), the Water Shrew(Neomys fodiens), the Lesser Crocidura(Crocidura suaveolens), the Mustiole(Suncus etruscus) the Ground Vole(Arvicola terrestris).
As for the avifauna and other birds of prey. Among the woods the Goshawk(Accipiter gentilis) loves to take refuge and ambush prey. It nests mainly in large coniferous trees and deftly preys on mammals and birds. Similar habits and appearance has the sparrowhawk(Accipiter nisus), which is, however, smaller and more widespread than the goshawk. On the rocky pinnacles of the Mammicomite-valley Precarite group probably nests theperegrine falcon(Falco peregrinus) known for the very high speed (about 300 kilometers per hour) it is capable of in a dive. The red kite (Milvusmilvus) is clearly distinguished from other raptors by its forked tail like that of swallows. The eastern belt of the Serre also nests the brown kite(Milvus migrans), which is smaller in size than the red kite

However, it is the buzzard(Buteo buteo) easily spotted anywhere as it swirls or glides around mournfully chirping in search of prey. Equally common is the Kestrel(Falco tinnunculus) lives preferably in open environments. It nests inside large logs or on rock cliffs.

It is probably also present on the Greenhouses, with very few specimens, the rare and great Eagle Owl(Bubo bubo), which can reach up to 70 cm in height. Other birds of prey present in the Greenhouses include the Barred Owl(Asio otus), the Long-eared Owl(Strix aluco), the Barn Owl(Tito alba) the Little Owl(Athene noctua) and theScops Owl(Otus scops).
A number of other birds naturally populate the Park. Beginning with the varied species of waterfowl that stop around Lake Angitola, on the north – western slopes of the massif: coot, moorhen, pochard, ferruginous duck, mallard, grey heron, egret, magpie, cuckoo, blackbird, dipper, gray crow, great spotted woodpecker, lesser spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, robin, nightingale, over-winged sparrow, tree-creeper, long-tailed tit, blackcap, jay, feral pigeon, woodcock, wryneck, hatbird, goldfinch, lonely sparrow, warbler, chaffinch, Sardinian warbler, titmouse, etc.

Among the snakes a prominent place certainly holds the Common Viper(Vipera aspis hugyi), other snakes of the Serre are the very common Biacco(Hierophis viridiflavus) the Cervone(Elaphe quatuorlineata) , the largest among Italian reptiles (it can reach up to 2 meters and 40 centimeters in length); the equally tame Collared snake(Natrix natrix) an expert swimmer capable of expelling a foul-smelling liquid if harassed; the Coluber(Coronella austriaca), the Aesculapian coluber(Elaphe longissima); and the Axerella snake(Natrix tassellata).
Of particular note among amphibians is the showy Spotted Salamander(Salamandra salamandra) the Spectacled Salamander(Salamandrina terdigitata), the Yellow-bellied Ululon(Bombina variegata), characterized by yellow patches under the belly.
Tortoises are represented by the Common Tortoise(Testudo hermanni).

Rivers and inland waters are home to the Mediterranean trout(Salmo trutta macrostigma). Large is the roster of insects, among which the sumptuous alpine rosalia(Rosalia alpina), the large oak cerambyx(Cerambyx cerdo) and the curious rhinoceros beetle(Oryctes nasicornis) are worth mentioning.