Editing Harz National Park (section)

=== Fauna ===
[[File:Luchsstein.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Lynx Stone of 1818]]
[[File:Lynx lynx.jpg|thumb|The lynx – once more in the wild in the Harz]]
The [[European lynx|lynx]] now lives wild again in the Harz, having been eradicated from the mountains since the early 19th century. The last report of a successful lynx hunt in the Harz dates to 1818. In an eleven-day hunt, in which almost 200 people took part, a male lynx was brought down at [[Lautenthal]]. The so-called [[Lynx Stone]] recalls the success of that particular hunt. In 1999 it was decided to reintroduce the lynx. Between 2000 and 2004 alone, 19 were released from zoo breeding programmes. Before their release the animals are prepared in a large enclosure in order to acclimatized them to freedom. In addition there is a viewing enclosure near the National Park forest restaurant on the [[Rabenklippe]] where the shy cats can also be observed by visitors to the park. Since 2002, there have been several instances of kittens born in the wild. In March, a male lynx was fitted with a [[Global Positioning System|GPS]] transmitter, so precise details can now be obtained about the range of an animal. The project team receives information via SMS from the transmitter.

Another reintroduction project was the capercaillie, which died out in the Harz in 1920–1930. Its reintroduction began in 1978. Over the years about 1,000 birds have been reared and set free. In spite of the number of birds the population was not assessed as stable. Due to the lack of success, the project was closed in 2003.<ref>Vgl. Ralf Siano (2006): ''Überlebensdauer, Todesursachen und Raumnutzung gezüchteter Auerhühner (Tetrao urogalluns L.), ausgewildert im Nationalpark Harz''. In: Vogelwarte 44 (2006), H. 3, p. 145–158. {{ISSN|0049-6650}}</ref>

The Harz is now one of Germany's most important habitats for the [[European wild cat|wild cat]]. It is classified in the Federal Republic of Germany as seriously endangered. It is assumed that the wild cat in the Harz has a stable population. It is widespread throughout the region, preferring those areas which are warmer, richer, more varied and better supplied with nutrients (lower lying deciduous forest with greater food availability).

In addition to lynx and wild cat, [[red deer]] and [[roe deer]] are also important species in the Harz National Park.

The most common [[invasive species]] is the [[raccoon]], but occasionally the [[raccoon dog]] also occurs. The [[mouflon]], which was in the 1930s located in different districts of the Harz for hunting reasons, is also found in the park.