After the heavy thunderstorms there is a lot of loose dead wood and fallen trees can block paths. Please be careful and do not rest under scrawny trees.

Due to the ongoing heat wave and drought, there is a considerable risk of forest fires in the canton of Zurich (level 3 out of 5). We kindly ask you not to light fires in the Sihlwald. You may use the marked fireplaces in the Langenberg Wildlife Park. Please always extinguish the fire completely.

Reptile burrow

A reptile burrow is a composite habitat consisting of piles of stones and branches in a sunny location. It provides hiding places and sunbathing areas for reptiles and amphibians or serves as a place to hibernate.

Material:

Foliage
A concrete or natural stone slab
Four larger boulders
Material from the garden: branches of different thicknesses, tree stumps, rootstocks, several small to medium-sized stones

Construction without hibernating possibilities (not frost-free):

Dig out the soil to a depth of approx. 40 cm or leave it at ground level
Loosen the soil
Place a layer of gravel and small stones on the surface (water drainage)
Place four boulders in a square on the ground
Place a concrete or natural stone slab on top of the four stones
Fill the cavity with straw or leaves (no hay!)
Add the wooden material from the garden on and around the frame

Construction with hibernating possibilities (frost-free):

Dig out the soil to a depth of approx. 1 m height from the slope
Loosen the soil
Dig a small trench so that the water can drain away
Place a layer of medium-sized stones on the trench (water drainage)
Place four boulders in a square on the ground
Place a concrete or natural stone slab on top of the four stones
Fill the cavity with straw or leaves (no hay!)
Add the wooden material from the garden on and around the scaffolding

Location:

The location should generally be sunny.
Not suitable for hibernation: on a slope or at ground level
Suitable for hibernation: on a slope

Care:

The structure should grow in a little but not become completely overgrown. Now and then, remove some weeds (in sections).
If necessary, pile up new material
Every 10 years or so, the structure can be completely dismantled and re-stacked.

Further links, brochures and leaflets:

Tips for reptiles in the garden
Further support measures for sand lizards in urban areas (p. 28) - the brochure is currently available as part of the special exhibition «Sand lizards. Everything alright?» in the Wildnispark Zurich Nature Museum.