Wild animals in the Langenberg love Christmas trees

The unsold Christmas trees from the region are welcome treats in the Zurich Langenberg Wilderness Park after December 24th. For many wild animals, the conifers are a popular addition to their menu. Wild horses, deer, bison and ibex, for example, enjoy the prickly trees. Conifers are even the main food for moose in winter.

An adult moose eats four to six Christmas trees per day. There are currently five adult moose and one young animal living in Langenberg, so the demand is high. The animals particularly love the nutrient-rich parts of plants such as twigs, buds and needles. Moose are true foraging specialists who select their food very carefully. In spring, summer and fall, moose mainly eat willows.

Incidentally, used Christmas trees cannot be fed. Tinsel and wax residues are harmful to the animals. And the effort involved in checking every single tree is too great.

Further information

Martin Kilchenmann
Head of Communication
Zoological Curator
Tel. 044 722 55 24
martin.kilchenmann@wildnispark.ch