After the summer fires, hunters in Gironde monitor the return of animals

“Ah, there is something that drinks, it’s the fox”, rejoices Caroline Bournel. Like every fortnight, this project manager for the Gironde Departmental Federation of Hunters comes to consult the photo and video traps strapped to the trees. The devices are positioned at the level of the drinking troughs, installed after the fires. Precious water points that allow animals, such as the fox or the wild boar, to hydrate themselves despite a habitat that is now devastated. “We could also see, on other cameras, that the wood pigeon came to use these drinking troughs”, explains Caroline Bournel.

Another solution used by hunters to count wildlife: thermal binoculars with night vision. At nightfall, teams criss-cross the forest with their cars. The images from the binoculars are transmitted and recorded on a digital tablet which is inside the vehicle. That night, Caroline Bournel and one of her colleagues observe a group of wild boars, four wild boars and three adults. Scenes that are no longer rare.

Hunters are seeing a gradual return of animals which ultimately would have mostly escaped the flames. “In reality, there was little mortality. We may have exaggerated a bit about what happened on the ground. The care centers recovered few animals. So, I think all the fauna who has moved has found refuge or has fled the territory”, reports Jérôme Werno, technical director at the Fédération des chasseurs de Gironde.

Even if the fauna is gradually recolonizing its territory, hunting, which is due to begin on September 11, will of course be prohibited this year.