Nöttinger Viehweide und Badertaferl, Protected area in Geisenfeld and Ernsgaden, Germany.
The Nöttinger Viehweide und Badertaferl is a protected nature reserve spanning around 148 hectares of dry grasslands dotted with juniper shrubs and scattered individual trees. The landscape shows a natural patchwork of open meadows and wooded sections with varied terrain.
Medieval grazing practices with cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats shaped this landscape over centuries. The area belonged to Geisenfeld Monastery until 1803, when its management changed.
The reserve sustains itself through traditional grazing with sheep and goats, which helps maintain rare plants like Siberian iris across the landscape. This old farming practice shapes how the grasslands and slopes appear today.
Dogs must be kept on leashes throughout the protected area to protect grazing animals and wildlife. This is especially important during breeding season and grazing periods when animals are most vulnerable.
The reserve is home to rare bat species including barbastelle and Daubenton's bats that thrive in this mixed landscape. Specialized beetle species like longhorn and great capricorn beetles also inhabit the woodland and grassland patches here.
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