The “Forest of the Bison” in Hardehausen (Warburg-Scherfede) in North Rhine-Westphalia, close to the border with Hesse, is a special forest. A group of European bison (Bos bonasus Linnaeus, 1758) have been grazing in this forest for more than 60 years (the forest itself is much older), creating a special forest habitat that is invaluable for many insect species.
Since 2017, I have been monitoring the insect diversity of this forest with several other entomologists from the “Arbeitsgemeinschaft westfälischer Entomologen”. My work focuses on dung beetles and carrion beetles (Scarabaeidae and Silphidae). Another focus is on beetles in dead wood.

Regarding my dung beetle research in the forest of the bison, I examine the dung of the Caucasian Wisent in the wooded part of the bison enclosure in the Eggegebirge as well as bison of the lowland Bialowieża line which graze in the Schwarzbachtal in the plain.

Furthermore, I also examine the dung of the horses in the Hammerbachtal valley, not far from both bison pastures. The horses are back-breeds modeled on the wild tarpans.

Most of the bigger mammals (except the bison) that die in the forest are left there. It is therefore obvious that a large necrophagous insect community could develop in this habitat. The data of three years will now be evaluated and published.

Almost over 10 years of studies have been carried out in different habitats. The basis of every habitat is sandy soil and drought - some forests, some heathlands and calcareous grasslands. Different ecological topics are in the focus of the research.