The Bénés loop

5 points of interest

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  The well-being of your pet dog

  Being out in the open in the mountain pastures can cause extreme overheating for your dog (sunstroke and dehydration). We advise you to opt for forest trails instead when going out and about with your pet dog. As a general rule, we advise against taking your pet dog to the mountain pastures. Should you take your dog to the pastures, make sure that it's always on a leash, let it interact with the guard dog and do not pick your dog up. The guard dog will eventually return back to its herd.

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  Livestock farming

  Livestock farming involves moving flocks around depending on the season and the availability of natural resources. During summer, the herds find fresh grass in the mountains - this is known as transhumance, or moving to mountain pastures or summer pastures. During this time, the pastures on the plains are mown to provide food for the animals in winter. This type of farming has shaped the landscape, maintaining the pastures and keeping open environments, which is essential for biodiversity. Were it not for this practice, the forest would simply overgrow and take over everything. Behind every mountain pasture, there is an owner, so you are always in someone's home in the mountains because these are working areas. It's a balance that must be preserved, so stay on the trails and remember to keep the fences shut. There is enough space for everybody, so let us share this beautiful mountain together!

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  Herd guard dogs, or “Patous”

  The role of herd guard dogs (often known as patous, the name of the breed) is to protect herds from predators (wolves, lynx, dogs, etc.), day and night, on mountain pastures or closer to villages. They are often used in large numbers, particularly to deal with packs of wolves. HOW DOGS BEHAVE: 1. They sprint and approach to identify any threat. 2. They bark to warn and dissuade. BEHAVIOUR YOU SHOULD ADOPT WHEN MEETING A DOG: 1. Go around the herd without running, staying as far from it as possible 2. Signal to the dog by speaking calmly so as not to startle the dog. If the dog approaches, stop, do not stare into its eyes, hide your walking sticks (any aggression will amplify the aggressive behaviour of these dogs).

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  Flora

  The Gentian

  Emblematic of the mountains, the stemless gentian can be found between 1,600 and 3,000 metres above sea level. These large, trumpet-shaped, dark blue flowers bloom from May to June. This species should not be confused with its better-known cousin, the great yellow gentian, which has tall stems. Yellow gentian’s roots are thought to have medicinal properties. Its roots are also used to make gentian alcohol.

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  Flora

  Invisible forces in mountain forests

  On a slope, the blanket of snow gradually slides downhill, advancing by a few millimetres to a few centimetres a day. This force, known as snowpack creep, causes some softwood trees to bend. One cubic metre of wet snow weighs around 400 kg. This causes the tree to deform into a crooked shape, typical of the Alpine landscape, or to bend or break. This phenomenon is sometimes crucial to a tree's lifespan and stability. Snow often causes longitudinal tears in the trunk, leaving the tree vulnerable to parasites and disease.