This summer, you've decided to head to the great outdoors, to the mountains. And you’re right! The mountains offer an exceptional setting for a vacation or a getaway. But keep in mind that you are not alone in nature: it is important to respect wildlife and flora while ensuring your own safety. Here’s how to fully enjoy your experience while being respectful. A true mountain outing experience includes wildlife observation, which requires a delicate approach to avoid disturbing animals in their natural habitat. Here are some tips for responsible observation.

Observe animals from a distance

Observe animals from a distance

Bring binoculars so you can watch animals from afar without disturbing them. This allows you to maintain a safe distance: do not attempt to get closer to wild animals for a better photo, as this can stress them and cause them to flee or behave unpredictably. Stay discreet and quiet, minimizing noise and movement. The calmer you are, the more likely you are to observe their natural behavior. There are more sensitive periods than others, such as the breeding season, during which animals are particularly stressed and vulnerable.

Do not feed them!

Do not feed them!

Feeding wild animals changes their natural behavior by making them accustomed to human presence and food. Animals can become dependent on the artificial food resources provided by humans. Moreover, this food is not suitable for their diet and can cause health problems such as diseases or digestive disorders.

Do not pick plants

Do not pick plants

The mountain is beautiful, and it should stay that way! By preserving flora, you maintain the biodiversity and natural beauty of our mountain landscapes. Here are some important practices to adopt during your summer outings. Neither flowers, mushrooms, nor wild fruits: they are part of the ecosystem and useful to animals. Some are essential for their diet and pollination, playing a crucial role in the ecosystem. Alpine flora includes many rare and often protected species. Some plants can take many years to develop under these climatic conditions: picking them can have devastating effects on their survival.

Avoid campfires

Avoid campfires

In addition to posing a high fire risk in often dry and windy regions in the summer, campfires can destroy local vegetation and disturb wildlife. Always respect local bans and use designated picnic areas with proper facilities if possible to minimize your impact. Otherwise, we recommend using portable gas or fuel stoves for outdoor cooking.

Leave the mountain as you found it by collecting all your waste. Bring garbage bags to put wrappers, food scraps, and any other waste, including cigarette butts.

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