Aurunci: The natural world

Weasels, dormouse, Beech martens, hedgehogs and adders are common in most areas of the park where there is forest or at least some woodland without too much human presence. Moles and stone martens are also present. Martens are about the size of a domestic cat in length and weigh between 1.3kg to 1.7kg. The park offer them a rich diet of voles and mice, but also rabbits, squirrels, small birds, birds eggs, berries and insects.

On the Aurunci pine martens prefer mixed woodland with plenty of cover, but they are also seen in more open areas as well. Among the reptiles and amphibians, the land tortoise, the salamander, the newt, the Greek frog, the coluber, the grass snake Whip Snake (Coluber viridiflavus) four-lined snake (Elaphe quatorlineata) and the poisonous viper (Vipera aspis).

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The viper is a very common snake throughout the park and outside. Prefer the rocky areas, especially if exposed to the sun like on the southern Aurunci slopes. It is very shy, but if disturbed by mistake is a quick-moving snake that bites and the effects of the poison can in bring bad consequences in children and elders if not dealt promptly. Fortunately, it is enough to avoid putting the hand under rocks and walk loudly so that the viper will have time to move quickly away.

The park also hosts a special guest whose intangible presence has been detected often more than one time but that very few have been able to see if not dead or trapped. We are talking about the magnificent Italian wild cat (Felis silvestris molisana). This is an Italian sub-species that inhabit the most inaccessible areas of southern Italy Apennines. Follow us in the search of this beautiful feline on the Aurunci Mountains.

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Spectacles apart are all the old domestic and semi-wild cattles. They roam free in the park and outside sometimes crossing the roads. These includes cows, sometimes black pigs, and more than often goats and sheeps. Many of these cattle’s breeding is semi-wild, without much human intervention. Thy eats leafy grasses, herbs and other ground vegetation.

Much of the land around the Aurunci Mountains is still used for grazing sheep and goats, which number of thousands. In the lower valley the forest patches are rare and they leave open space for large tracts below 1000 m planted with olives, vines, oranges and lemons as well as fields of wheat deep down in the larger valleys.

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Even though human presence has been always limited the Aurunci Mountains have been used by the rural communities of the small hillside and mountain villages. Several areas in the park have been modified by tree-cutting and domestic animals grazing transforming part of the landscape in a bucolic puzzle of seasonally cultivated fields and pastures where the borders with more natural forest habitat are marked by large bushes of thorn tree and patches of uncultivated fields with the ancient white stone-rock wall borders.

Agriculture here still keeps old, traditional farming methods with not much use of modern machinery. The olive tree groves have replaced large parts of the original forest occupying the territories of the beech forest. Some olive plantations are found here on the Aurunci up to 800 mt. Often, along the olive groves’ borders, excursionists will see trees of fig and dense scrubs alternated to cactus pear (Opunzia ficus-indica) so typical of southern and central Italy rural landscape. This new habitat, whilst putting off some of the most typical forest wildlife have attracted some others animal living more closely to human presence creating a new space for other species.

            Click on Photos to see the photografies of the Park

It is from here there all the paths star climbing the mountains with their hidden population of wild creatures. The park has several picnic spots for whoever wish to spend the full day out. Nature lovers and birdwatchers alike can enjoy the Aurunci Park in a variety of way. Apart then on foot or with a far-ranging mountain bike, these mountains are an ideal playground for excursions on horses. Beginners can apply to local horse riding centres which organize riding courses, trips and long lasting trekking in the splendid setting of the park.