Why is there no wildlife in the Swiss Alps?

I have seen ibex and chamois as well as marmots and rabbits.

This morning we took the train from Brienz to Brunig Pass, and saw a large deer-like animal, and another antlered deer. But I admit, that was unusual.

Seeing raccoons in Switzerland is difficult because, thankfully, they haven't arrived there yet... or at least not in large numbers. However, they are slowly spreading from north to south. In Europe, the raccoon is on the list of invasive alien species that actually should not be here.

Well there certainly are, even if you haven’t seen them - I’ve encountered marmots, ibex, Chamois, snakes (venomous), lizards, birds, squirrels & fox all on trails around the BO. It is true that they aren’t frolicking all over, but they don’t exactly love hanging out with hoards of tourists, so you’re not going to see them in crowded areas. If you didn’t see them in miles of hiking, sounds like just bad luck. But also Europe in general is way more densely populated than America and has been for a much longer time, so wildlife is not as prominent in general. I’ve hiked in Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Norway, Germany, etc and find less wildlife in general than I do at home on my farm in Tennessee.

Next time you go to the Berner Oberland why not try going up the Niederhorn early in the morning where you can see “Chamois, ibex, marmots, sometimes rock ptarmigans”

https://www.niederhorn.ch/en/activities/observing-wildlife

Living somewhere is very different from just going on holiday. I certainly see deer and the occasional fox out my apartment window, or while I am out hiking and even when looking out the window while traveling by train…but certainly not every day. Even when I lived in bear country in Canada I rarely saw any bears - just signs that they were there. Just because you don't see them does not mean they don't exist.

Here are more ideas for you, such as going to one of the Swiss parks instead of the major tourist areas:

https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/experiences/summer-autumn/excursions/wildlife-watching/

In Davos the squirrels will come and eat out of your hands in the forested section of this easy walk
https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/route-704
And also further up the mountains.

Probably because of the low temperatures and the lack of plant varieties to feed off of at such high altitudes.

This morning I have already sighted two squirels in the garden. At night we usually get at least on visit from a Weasel. Foxes and Badgers are plenty, and we once got even a Marmot down here. There is an Ibex living pretty much in Wengen, and we have spotted a Lynx as well. Chamois and Deer are here too.
Just like in Austin those animals seem to like it at the edges of civilisation. I am pretty sure that were you to walk out to the middle of Farm country you would not see as many animals except for farm animals either. Same if you walk up in the mountains here.

You have to be aware that Switzerland is not a wilderness. This is a man made landscape, that has been lived in for millennia.

I also think people try and compare the Alps to mountain ranges in the US. If the Alps were filled with bears, mountain lions and other scary *ss critters, I am sure there would be far less tourists and amateur hikers in the Alps, me included. I love the Alps. The beauty of the mountains, waterfalls and greenery makes up for the lack of animals in my opinion. Not all mountains were created equal worldwide.

I have noticed the same thing on our many hiking vacations throughout the Alps. We have never seen more than a marmot. We are used to seeing tons of critters here in Colorado but hardly even tracks or scat in the Alps. I attribute it to a higher population density and the fact that animals always know to stay away from areas where a high concentration of humans can be found.