Animals in Austria

Below you can find a complete list of Austrian animals. We currently track 247 animals in Austria and are adding more every day!

Austria is a small landlocked country that sits near the center of Europe. In pre-modern times, it was once the seat of the Holy Roman Empire and the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. Geographically, the country shares a land border with Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.

Most of the country’s biome is completely dominated by mountains, forests, and the foothills of the mighty Alps. The rest of the biome is composed of the flat low country, the western fringes of the Carpathian Mountains, and large lakes carved out from the last ice age. The Danube, the second-longest river in all of Europe, also runs through northern Austria, providing an excellent source of freshwater fish.

The Official National (State) Animal of Austria

Austria does have official state and national animals. The black eagle is the national animal of Austria and has been since 1924 when it was adopted by the government. It symbolizes strength, courage, and freedom for Austrians.

The Styrian coarse-haired sheepdog (or “Stroßhund”) is also a popular animal in Austria due to its history as an ancient sheep guardian breed that originated in the country hundreds of years ago. This dog was officially made a state animal in 2000 because of its deep roots within Austrian culture.

Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in Austria

Austria is a beautiful country with an abundance of wildlife. There are many places in Austria where you can view wild animals and get up close to nature.

For bird watchers, the Danube region is a great spot for seeing different species of birds, such as herons, cormorants, kingfishers, and more. The Alpine regions also offer a wide range of bird species, including eagles, grouse, and buzzards.

If you’re looking to see larger mammals, the Hohe Tauern National Park provides excellent opportunities to witness chamois or marmots in their natural environment. You may even be lucky enough to spot one of Austria’s most beloved native animals – the alpine ibex! Other large mammals that inhabit this national park include red deer, roe deer, and lynx.

The rivers and lakes throughout Austria provide habitats for beavers which can often be seen swimming between ponds or along riverbanks during certain times of the day. In addition to these relatively common animal sightings, there are several rarer ones, such as brown bears or otters.

Austria has seven national parks and numerous wildlife reserves scattered across its diverse biomes. Here is where visitors can find some of the most unique wildlife in the country.

• The High Tauern National Park is located in the main chain of the Central Eastern Alps. Encompassing 700 square miles of mountains, valleys, forests, and glaciers, including the country’s highest peak, Grossglockner, this park is a rich source of red deer, chamois, Alpine ibex, griffon vultures, and golden eagles.
• The Neusiedler See-Seewinkel National Park is located in the easternmost state of Burgenland. Straddling diverse wetlands, meadows, and steppes, this park is an excellent source of migrating and nesting birds such as herons, great bustards, spoonbills, storks, geese, avocets, bee-eaters, and sea eagles. Horses and water buffalo also roam across the country.
• The Danube-Auen National Park, located near the capital of Vienna in the state of Lower Austria, is one of the largest remaining natural floodplains in Europe. Visitors can expect to find beavers, sea eagles, kingfishers, newts, and pond turtles here.
• The Kalkalpen National Park, located in the Northern Limestone Alps of Upper Austria, is one of the few places in the country where one can find the rare and elusive Eurasian lynx and the brown bears. It is also a rich source of bats, breeding birds, cave beetles, beavers, and butterflies.
• The Gesäuse National Park, located in the mountainous region of Upper Styria, contains chamois, golden eagles, red deer, otters, sandpipers, dippers, grey wagtails, beetles, spiders, and numerous species of butterflies.

Fish of Austria

The most common fish in Austria are trout, carp, and pike. These species can be found in both river and lake systems across the country. Austria is landlocked, so it does not have an ocean, but a large number of freshwater lakes, including Lake Neusiedl, Worthersee, and Traunsee, provide plenty of opportunities for fishing.

In addition to these three main species, numerous other varieties are native to Austrian waters, such as perch, zander (also known as walleye), tench, catfish, and eel. Many of these smaller species provide great opportunities for angling enthusiasts looking to catch something unique or unusual!

Birds of Austria

The most common birds to see in Austria are the European robin, Eurasian blackbird, common chaffinch, and Eurasian jay. Other species that can be seen in Austria include barn swallow, white stork, and wood pigeon.

Migratory birds that come to Austria during the summer months include many species of warblers, such as lesser whitethroat, garden warbler, and marsh warbler, as well as waders like ruff and spotted redshank. In addition to these seasonal migrants, there are a number of resident species which also travel between different parts of Europe throughout the year, such as golden orioles and hawfinches.

In wintertime, some of the migratory birds leave Austria for warmer climates, including swifts like the common swift, which migrate south across Africa or even further away towards India or Southeast Asia. Some others remain in their breeding grounds but move down into lower altitudes where food is more readily available such as the great grey shrike.

The Most Dangerous Animals in Austria Today

There are some potentially dangerous animals living in Austria. These include bears, wolves, and lynxes which can be found in the more remote mountainous regions of the country. Although attacks on humans are very rare, they can occur if these animals feel threatened or their cubs are at risk of harm.

If you plan to visit any forested areas in Austria, it is important to take precautions such as making noise so that the animals don’t surprise you and respect their habitats by not getting too close or disturbing them. Other dangerous wildlife species include wild boar and foxes which live throughout much of Austria and may attack if provoked or startled.

Overall, dangerous wildlife is relatively rare in Austria. People only need to look out for the few venomous snakes and dangerous predators in the remote countryside and mountains.

• Common European Adder– Easily identified by the dark brown colors and a zigzag pattern on the back, this large viper is widely distributed throughout much of Europe. As a result, it is responsible for more bites than almost any other snake on the continent. The most common symptoms of its toxin include pain, swelling, tingling, and blisters. Cardiovascular failure is extremely rare, even in untreated cases.
• Horned Viper – Native to southern Austria and the Balkans, this large viper is named after the big horn that emerges from its nose. The symptoms of its venom are pain, swelling, and discoloration.
• Eurasian Brown Bear – While brown bears could potentially kill a person, actual attacks occur in a very small number of on-foot encounters. Bears only tend to attack when they feel threatened or surprised, particularly when a mother bear is protecting her cubs.

3 Largest Animals in Austria

The three largest animals in Austria by feet and weight are the Eurasian Brown Bear, the European Bison, and the Red Deer. The average Eurasian Brown Bear is between 5 to 9 feet long and can weigh up to 550 pounds. This species of bear is native to most of Europe, including Austria, where they inhabit forests with plenty of cover, such as tall shrubs or trees. They mainly feed on fruits, nuts, honeycomb, roots, and tubers but will also scavenge for carrion if it is available.

The European Bison stands at around 6-7 feet tall, with a shoulder height ranging from 4-6 feet. On average, this species weighs 900-2200 pounds depending on gender and age. These bovines prefer habitats that offer a variety of grasses for grazing along with some shelter from nearby trees or shrubs. However, they are able to adapt to different environments easily, so they can be found in many areas across central Europe, including parts of Austria. Their diet consists mainly of grasses, but during winter, when these become scarce, they may supplement their diets with bark stripped from young tree trunks or branches, as well as mushrooms and lichen, which grow on dead wood in their habitat.

The Red Deer is another large animal species in Austria and can be found inhabiting open woodlands close to sources of food, like meadows full of vegetation. They usually measure between 5-8 feet long, including their tail, and weigh anywhere from 400-600 pounds depending on gender size. These animals are very social creatures. They live in large herds with a hierarchical structure that is led by an alpha male that helps protect the herd from predators. Red deer also have incredible senses! They possess excellent eyesight and hearing, allowing them to detect potential threats quickly. Their sense of smell allows them to locate food sources even when visibility is limited due to fog or other weather conditions.

3 Rarest Animals in Austria

The three rarest animals to spot in Austria are the Alpine Ibex, the alpine marmot, and the Eurasian Lynx. These species are endangered due to a variety of factors, such as habitat destruction, climate change, and illegal poaching.

The Alpine Ibex is an alpine mountain goat found primarily in the high mountains of Austria’s Alps region. They usually live at altitudes between 5,000 to 10,000 feet above sea level and can be seen grazing on rocky cliffs or meadows during summer months. The main threats facing this species are human disturbance from tourism activities which can disrupt their migration routes, as well as excessive hunting for their horns and meat.

The alpine marmot (Marmota marmota) is a large ground squirrel native to Austria’s forests that lives in burrows beneath the soil surface. It feeds mainly on grasses and herbs but will also eat small insects when available. This species is threatened by deforestation caused by logging operations which can impact its natural habitats like coniferous forests where it nests year-round during hibernation periods. Other dangers include pollution from agricultural pesticides that contaminate its food sources.

Finally, the Eurasian Lynx is one of Europe’s largest wild cats, found mostly within densely forested areas throughout Austria’s mountainous regions, especially in northern parts of the country near Germany’s borderlands area. They hunt smaller animals, such as rodents or hares, while avoiding humans whenever possible.

Endangered Animals in Austria

The European bison, also known as the wisent, has had a long and tumultuous history in Austria. It was once an important part of the country’s wildlife, but over time it became increasingly hunted and eventually went extinct due to human activity.

The cause of its extinction can be attributed to hunting for sport or food as well as habitat destruction caused by logging and farming practices. In recent years conservationists have been working hard to bring back the species with successful breeding efforts that are helping to increase their numbers.

However, there are still several other species that face the risk of becoming extinct due to continued threats such as climate change, pollution, poaching, and loss of habitat from industrial development. Conservationists continue their work in order to preserve Austria’s remaining biodiversity so future generations can enjoy it just as we do today.

• Eurasian Lynx – This big cat was nearly exterminated from Western and Central Europe in the 20th century (although it’s still thriving in northern Europe and Asia). In an effort to rehabilitate numbers, conservationists introduced the lynx to the mountains and forests of Austria in the 1980s and 1990s. There is currently a very small but self-sustaining population.
• Bavarian Pine Vole – This rare rodent was thought to be completely extinct in the wild until a new population was discovered in the state of Tyrol.
• European Hamster – This rodent’s natural territory once stretched across the entire European continent, but after years of popular decline, it’s currently considered to be an endangered species at risk of becoming extinct. Habitat loss and pollution appear to be the main reasons for their decline. Farmers also regard it as a pest.
• Freshwater Pearl Mussel – This endangered mollusk is endemic to freshwater temperate rivers around the world. But numbers appear to be in steep decline from water pollution and habitat degradation.

The Flag of Austria

The Austrian flag is as symbolic as it is beautiful. The colors of the flag have deep meaning to Austrians, especially the red and white colors. Red on the Austrian flag represents love, generosity, bloodshed, and dominance, all qualities that Austria has historically held close to its heart.

It also stands for power and valor – two traits that many in Austria aspire to embody. White, on the other hand, emphasizes pureness and genuineness – values that are seen by many throughout Austria as central tenets of their culture. Altogether, these two colors create a powerful symbol of what it means to be an Austrian citizen – one that will remain strong for years to come!

Austrian Animals

Admiral Butterfly

Stunningly beautiful wings

Alpine Dachsbracke

Good companion and hard-working breed!

Ant

First evolved 100 million years ago!

Armyworm

They are so named because they "march" in armies of worms from one crop to another in search of food

Aurochs

Extinct ancestor of all domesticated cattle!

Avocet

Has a curved, upturned beak!

Badger

Can reach speeds of 30 km/h!

Barn Owl

Found everywhere around the world!

Barn Swallow

Older offspring help care for new hatchlings.

Bat

Detects prey using echolocation!

Beaver

Builds a dam from sticks and leaves!

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs feed for 4-12 minutes.

Bee

Rock paintings of bees date back 15,000 years

Beetle

There are more than 350,000 different species

Beewolf wasp

They hunt bees

Bird

Not all birds are able to fly!

Biscuit Beetle

The biscuit beetle form a symbiotic relationship with yeast

Black Widow Spider

They typically prey on insects!

Blackpoll Warbler

They migrate for the longest distance of any warbler.

Booted Bantam

The feathers on the feet of tiny Booted Bantam chickens can reach up to six inches in length!

Brown-banded Cockroach

Females glue egg cases to furniture

Brown Bear

A dominant predator in it's environment!

Brown Dog Tick

Can live its entire life indoors

Bumblebee

The most common species of bee!

Butterfly

There are thought to be up 17,500 species!

Camel Cricket

The camel crickets that are found in the USA are light brown in color. They also have dark streaks all over their body.

Carpenter Ant

Carpenter ants can lift up to seven times their own weight with their teeth!

Cat

May have been domesticated up to 10,000 years ago.

Caterpillar

The larvae of a moth or butterfly!

Catfish

There are nearly 3,000 different species!

Centipede

There are about 3,000 documented species!

Chamois

Natively found in the European mountains!

Chicken

First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!

Cicada

Cicadas have one of the longest insect lifespans

Cockroach

Dated to be around 300 million years old!

Codling Moth

Pupae are able to undergo diapause to survive poor fruit yield years and winter.

Common Buzzard

The most common raptor in the UK!

Common European Adder

European adders are the only snake that lives above the Arctic Circle.

Common Frog

Found throughout the European continent!

Common Furniture Beetle

The common furniture beetle feeds exclusively on wood

Common House Spider

House spiders have the ability to eat most insects in a home.

Common Loon

Also known as the Great Northern Diver

Common Raven

A group of ravens is called an unkindness or a conspiracy.

Common Toad

Most active in wet weather!

Cormorant

They can fly 35 mph and dive 150 feet below water.

Cow

There are nearly 1.5 billion worldwide!

Crab

There are 93 different crab groups

Crab Spider

Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings

Crane

Many are critically endangered species!

Cricket

Male crickets can produce sounds by rubbing their wings together

Crow

A group of these birds is called a Murder.

Cuckoo

Deer

There are around 40 different species!

Devil’s Coach Horse Beetle

The Devil’s coach horse beetle can emit a noxious substance to deter predators

Dog

First domesticated in South-East Asia!

Dog Tick

Dog ticks feed on dogs and other mammals

Donkey

First domesticated 5,000 years ago!

Dormouse

Found in Europe, Africa and Asia!

Dragonfly

It's larvae are carnivorous!

Duck

Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!

Dung Beetle

The dung beetle can push objects many times its own weight

Eagle

Has exceptional eyesight!

Earthworm

They are hermaphrodites, which means they have male and female organs

Earwig

There are nearly 2,000 different species!

Edible Frog

Are known to guard the muddy banks!

Eel

Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!

Eider

Eiders are sexually dimorphic, with males being larger and more colorful.

Ermine

A very bold and ferocious predator!

Eurasian Bullfinch

The shy eurasian bullfinch prefers to forage very close to cover.

Eurasian Eagle-owl

The Eurasian Eagle-owl is the second largest owl in the world with a wingspan up to six feet!

Eurasian Jay

The Eurasian jay has the ability to mimic other sounds

European Bee-Eater

They can eat up to 250 bees per day!

European Goldfinch

They are frequent visitors to backyard feeders, especially those containing niger seeds.

European Robin

Male robins are so aggressive and territorial that they will attack their own reflections.

Falcon

The fastest creatures on the planet!

Fallow deer

The fallow deer has more variation in its coat colors than most other deer.

False Widow Spider

False spiders actually prey on black widow spiders and other hazardous spiders

Ferret

Ferrets can be trained to do tricks like dogs!

Fire-Bellied Toad

Found across mainland Europe and Asia!

Fire Salamander

Its name comes from the fact that people once believed it was born in fire

Firefly

The firefly produces some of the most efficient light in the world

Flea

Adult fleas can jump up to 7 inches in the air

Fleckvieh Cattle

Besides being bred for milk and meat, these cattle were also used as draft oxen.

Fly

There are more than 240,000 different species!

Flying Squirrel

Can glide up to 90 meters!

Fox

Only 12 species are considered "true foxes"

Frog

There are around 7,000 different species!

Fruit Fly

Fruit flies are among the most common research animals in the world

Gadwall

They make many sounds when trying to attract a mate.

German Cockroach

The most common type of urban roach

Glass Lizard

Can grow up to 4ft long!

Glowworm

Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!

Gnat

Males form large mating swarms at dusk

Goat

Most closely related to the Sheep!

Goldcrest

The goldcrest never starts moving and needs to consume for most of the day to survive. Therefore, in the colder months, it's best that eat 90% a day.

Golden Eagle

Their calls sound like high-pitched screams, but they are quiet most of the time.

Golden Oriole

Migrates between Europe and Asia!

Goose

There are 29 different species!

Grasshopper

There are 11,000 known species!

Gypsy Moth

One of the most invasive species in the world

Hamster

Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!

Hare

Can reach speeds of over 50 mph!

Hawk Moth Caterpillar

Many hawk moth caterpillars eat toxins from plants, but don’t sequester them the way milkweed butterflies do. Most toxins are excreted.

Hedgehog

Thought to be one of the oldest mammals on Earth!

Heron

Inhabits wetlands around the world!

Highland Cattle

Natively found in the Scottish Highlands!

Honey Bee

There are only 8 recognized species!

Honey Buzzard

Honey buzzards are medium-sized raptors that earned their names by raiding the nests of bees and wasps.

Hoopoe

Stunning bird with a stinky way to deter predators!

Horse

Has evolved over 50 million years!

Horsefly

Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.

Housefly

The fly has no teeth

Human

Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!

Huntsman Spider

Some huntsman spiders have an interesting way of moving around. Some cartwheel while others do handsprings or backflips.

Ibex

Can jump over 6 feet straight up from a standstill

Insects

There are an estimated 30 million species!

Jackdaw

The jackdaw tends to mate for life with a single partner

Jumping Spider

Some can jump 50 times the length of their bodies

Kingfisher

Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!

Ladybug

There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!

Lazarus Lizard

Lazarus Lizards can communicate through chemical and visual signals.

Leech

Has 10 pairs of eyes!

Lemming

Does not hibernate during the bitter Arctic winter!

Linnet

While linnets are monogamous during mating season, they do not mate for life. While breeding pairs are together, the males are highly territorial and will defend the nesting site and the surrounding area.

Lizard

There are around 5,000 different species!

Loach

Have sharp spines below their eyes

Locust

Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.

Long-Eared Owl

Ear tufts make it look bigger!

Long-Tailed Tit

Often hangs upside down while feeding!

Magpie

They are found across Europe, Asia and Africa!

Marmot

A marmot spends 80% of its life below ground

Marsh Frog

Has bright green skin!

Mayfly

There are 2,500 known species worldwide!

Mealybug

They have a symbiotic relationship with ants.

Merganser

They line their nests with their feathers

Millipede

Some species have a poisonous bite!

Mink

The mink can swim up to 100 feet underwater.

Mole

Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!

Mole Cricket

Adult Mole crickets may fly as far as 5 miles during mating season and are active most of the year.

Mongrel

Has characteristics of two or more breeds!

Moorhen

Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!

Mosquito

Only the female mosquito actually sucks blood

Moth

There are 250,000 different species!

Mouse

Found on every continent on Earth!

Mule

The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!

Muskrat

The muskrat can stay underwater up to 17 minutes at a time

Natterjack

Can lay up to 7500 eggs

Neanderthal

Roamed Asia and Europe for around 100,000 years!

Nematode

Nematodes range in size from 1/10 of an inch to 28 feet long

Newt

Able to regrow lost or damaged limbs!

Nightingale

Named more than 1,000 years ago!

No See Ums

There are more than 5,000 species.

Northern Pintail

Northern pintails migrate at night with speeds reaching 48 miles per hour!

Nose-Horned Viper

The fangs of a nose-horned viper can be as long as half an inch!

Nut Weevil

Bore holes in tree nuts and lay their eggs inside

Nutria

An invasive species, one female nutria can birth up to 200 babies in just a few years of living!

Old House Borer

Depending on the habitat and climate, these beetles can live between 2 to 10 years, often staying in their larval stage for several years, making them extremely dangerous to wooden structures.

Orb Weaver

Females are about four times the size of males

Ortolan Bunting

The tradition of hiding your face with a napkin or towel while eating this bird was begun by a priest who was a friend of the great French gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin.

Osprey

They reuse nesting sites for 70 years!

Otter

There are 13 different species worldwide

Owl

The owl can rotate its head some 270 degrees

Peppered Moth

Teachers in schools often use the evolution of the peppered moth as a good example of Darwin’s theory of natural selection.

Peregrine Falcon

Fastest animal on Earth

Pheasant

Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!

Pig

Thought to have been domesticated in 9,000 BC!

Pigeon

They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.

Pika

Found in mountainous regions and rocky areas

Pike Fish

Pine Marten

A pine marten can jump from tree to tree similar to a squirrel.

Pond Skater

There are 500 different species!

Pool Frog

The rarest amphibian in the UK!

Porcupine

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Purple Emperor Butterfly

Inhabits deciduous forests!

Puss Moth

Caterpillars squirt formic acid!

Quail

Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!

Rabbit

There are more than 300 different species!

Raccoon

Known to wash their food before eating it!

Raccoon Dog

The only hibernating canine!

Rat

Omnivores that eat anything!

Rat Snakes

Rat snakes are constrictors from the Colubridae family of snakes.

Red Deer

A male red deer shows his age in his antlers, which become longer and more branched every year.

Red Kite

This bird moves its tail to steer its body like a rudder on a boat.

Redstart

They build their nests off the ground in tree holes, cavities, stone walls, and roofs

River Turtle

Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!

Robin

There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!

Rodents

The capybara, the world’s largest rodent, likes to be in and around bodies of water. Because of this, the Catholic Church in South America decided that it was a fish, and people were allowed to eat it during Lent and First Fridays.

Roe Deer

The roe is one of the most popular game animals in Europe

Rooster

Will mate with the entire flock!

Rough-Legged Hawk (Rough-Legged Buzzard)

Its scientific name, lagopus, is Ancient Greek for “hare” and “foot,” referring to its feathered feet and toes.

Sable Ferret

Ferrets were used during the Revolutionary War to keep down the rat population.

Salamander

There are more than 700 different species!

Sand Lizard

Males turn green in spring!

Scorpion

There are around 2,000 known species!

Sea Eagle

The sea eagle tends to mate for life with a single partner

Seahorse

Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!

Sheep

Around 35 million in the English countryside!

Short-Eared Owl

The short-eared owl is one of the most widespread owl species in the world, covering five continents.

Shrew

The spinal column of the shrew Scutisorex somereni is so strong and reinforced that it can support the weight of an adult human.

Shrimp

There are 2,000 different species worldwide!

Skink Lizard

Some skinks lay eggs in some habitats while giving birth to skinklets in other habitats.

Slow Worm

Found widely throughout British gardens!

Slug

They glide around on one foot, which is aided by the slime they produce

Smallmouth Bass

A fierce fighter!

Smokybrown Cockroach

Has up to 45 eggs per egg case

Snail

There are nearly 1,000 different species!

Snake

There are around 4,000 known species worldwide

Snowy Owl

One of the largest owl species in the world!

Song Thrush

A male song thrush can have over 100 phrases in his repertoire of songs and can imitate pet birds, telephones and other man-made objects.

Spadefoot Toad

They spend most of their time underground!

Sparrow

There are 140 different species!

Spider Wasp

They prey on spiders to feed their larvae or they parasitize other spider wasps.

Squirrel

Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!

Stick Insect

There are more than 3,000 different species!

Stoat

Average adults weigh about 200 grams!

Stork

They can’t sing like other birds.

Swallowtail Butterfly

N/A

Swan

Populations have been affected by pollution!

Tawny Owl

The most widespread owl in Europe!

Termite

Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!

Thrush

The American robin is called the robin because its red breast reminded European settlers of the robin back in the old country.

Tick

They inject hosts with a chemical that stops them from feeling the pain of the bite

Tiger Beetle

The adult tiger beetle is one of the fastest land insects in the world

Tiger Moth

The bright colors of this moth are a signal to predators that it has a terrible taste.

Tortoise

Can live until they are more than 150 years old!

Tree Frog

Found in warmer jungles and forests!

Turtles

Some species of aquatic turtles can get up to 70 percent of their oxygen through their butt.

Ural owl

The Ural owl can rotate its head up to 270 degrees

Viper

Vipers are one of the most widespread groups of snakes and inhabit most

Vulture

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Wasp

There are around 75,000 recognised species!

Water Buffalo

Has been domesticated for thousands of years!

Water Vole

The largest Vole species in the UK!

Wax Moth

The Wax Moth larvae are more dangerous than the adult.

Weasel

The smallest carnivorous mammal in the world!

White Ferret / Albino Ferrets

There are two different types of white ferrets!

Wild Boar

Males have a top tusk to sharpen the bottom one!

Wolf

Thought to date back more than 300,000 years!

Wolf Spider

Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.

Woodlouse

This animal can roll up into a ball

Woodlouse Spider

Unlike most spiders, woodlouse spiders don’t build a web.

Woodpecker

There are 200 different species!

Woolly Rhinoceros

The woolly rhinoceros roamed the earth between three and a half million and 14,000 years ago.

Worm

Doesn’t have eyes.

Wryneck

They feign death by making their bodies limp and closing their eyes.

Xeme (Sabine’s Gull)

They follow after seals and whales to eat their scraps.

Yellowhammer

It interbreeds with the pine bunting

Austrian Animals List