Fauna and flora
Herbivores (deer, roe deer, chamois and ibex...they are all present in Vanoise), rodents (the variable hare which changes its livery during the seasons, the marmot established in majority in the vast alpine lawns, various voles of which the snow vole, the collared field mouse), carnivores (the fox, the badger, the marten, the weasel, the ermine), bats (the common pipistrelle, the northern auricle) and insectivores like the water shrew.
Among the 125 species of birds nesting in the Vanoise, we find: the golden eagle, the crossbill, the nutcracker, the Tengmalm's owl, the black flycatcher, the great horned owl, the rock robin, the black grouse, the black grouse, the three-toed woodpecker (observed in France only in Savoie and Haute Savoie) and the tichodrome.
A diversity
The latest synthesis on the flora of France "Flora Gallica", published in 2014, lists about 5000 species of vascular plants (ferns and allied plants, conifers and flowering plants) in metropolitan France. The Vanoise massif alone gathers 1700 species, i.e. a third of the flora of France on less than 0.5% of the national territory!
This exceptional diversity can be explained by the variety of environments present, linked to the important altitudinal gradient, to the range of exposures, to the strong differences in the chemical composition of rocks and soils.
Essential to the protection of an exceptional and fragile natural environment! Walk, run, photograph, smell, listen, breathe, contemplate, observe, learn, transmit, respect...
Come onfoot, without your dog (even on a leash), leave your mountain bike and paraglider at home
Admirethe beauty of the flowers without picking them, they won't grow back at home
Feed yourselfwith tasty local products but do not feed the marmots
Optimizeyour water and electricity consumption in the huts
Initiate yourselfto the calm of the mountain, to the tranquility... disconnect
Followthe trails and don't cut the laces on the way down
Takethe shuttles instead of your car
Open this extraordinary picture book with your children, awaken their curiosity, make them aware of the environment, respect... That's what real mountain vacations are all about!
A privileged meeting with nature...
The park rangers, whose missions within the National Parks are very varied, offer you all summer long meetings to present you their job and help you to discover the secrets of this environment which surrounds us.
Don't hesitate to get in touch with the mountain guides who have the "Esprit Parc" label. While guiding you safely on snowy itineraries, they will be able to attract your attention, arouse your curiosity and make you want to know more about the mountain environment.
This period is favourable, for example, to observe marmots coming out of their hibernation to enjoy the warmth of the sun.