Animals in Luxembourg

Q: What Dangerous Animals Live in Luxembourg?

Bear: Bears are not aggressive, but they are not shy about defending their territory. Bear attacks on humans have occurred in Europe, and these attacks can be fatal. Wild boar: These wild pigs can weigh more than 400 pounds. Their fierce nature and huge, sharp tusks make them fearsome when they attack. The number of wild boar attacks on humans has increased as their population has grown. Most attacks happen during the mating season, which is from November to January. Castor bean tick: This small bloodsucker is not just unpleasant to find on your skin. The castor bean tick carries many diseases, including Lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis, or Q fever, an infectious disease that can damage your heart, liver, and lungs.

Below you can find a complete list of Luxembourg animals. We currently track 194 animals in Luxembourg and are adding more every day!

Luxembourg is a small landlocked country in Western Europe. Its official name is the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It borders Belgium to the west, Germany to the east, and France to the south. Luxembourg has been called the “green heart of Europe.” It is famous for its rich farmland and its wine-producing region. Outside its major cities, the country is sparsely populated and rural. It is a hilly country with craggy mountains marked by many rivers and streams.

Wildlife in Luxembourg

Luxembourg has several unique animals. These include the American beaver, Eurasian beaver, common vole, European pine vole, greater white-toothed shrew, Brandt’s bat, Natterer’s bat, European wild cat, and European otter. You can spot red foxes, bears, rodents, and a huge variety of insects in the woodland areas.

Luxembourg’s native birds include the barnacle goose, mute swan, red-legged partridge, European turtle dove, and the spotted crake. Its rivers and streams are home to curlews, sandpipers, gulls, loons, and other aquatic birds. Its unique native reptiles include the European toad and the smooth newt.

What Is the National Animal of Luxembourg?

Luxembourg’s national animal is the Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), a small bird that is a member of the kinglet family. This beautiful yellow bird sports a patch of bright gold on its head, which is where it gets its nickname, “king of the birds.”

This small, lovely bird lives in forests but can often be found in backyard gardens. Goldcrests live in many parts of Europe and Asia. Luxembourg’s national bird is listed as “least concern” for conservation status.

What Animals Are Endangered or Extinct in Luxembourg?

Luxembourg’s endangered species include the European eel, sociable plover bird, freshwater pearl mussel, and the thick-shelled river mussel. Spengler’s freshwater mussels are believed to be extinct in Luxembourg, but it has been spotted in France.

Where To See the Top Wild Animals in Luxembourg

There are many places to see animals in this scenic country. Hiking and canoeing are popular sports, and there are many protected nature areas.

The Nature Park of the Upper Sure is home to the country’s largest drinking water reservoir. This scenic lake provides water and shelter to a large variety of animals.
The Beetebuerger Bech Nature Reserve in Bettembourg is home to unspoiled forests and streams. Among the native birds, you may see are the ashen woodpecker, black woodpecker, sea woodpecker, Natterer’s bat, and Bechstein’s bat.
Nature Reserve Pettenerbesch is another deeply forested area that’s right in the geographical center of the country. Here, you can spot a vast variety of wildlife, including foxes, owls, pheasants, voles, and beavers while you walk the trails.
The Nature Reserve Haff Reimech is home to the Biodiversum, a unique indoor conservation area. This popular learning center was built on an artificial island at the foot of the region’s famous vineyards. The first floor of this multilevel center focuses on Luxembourg’s water conservation efforts. The second floor focuses on the country’s unique flora and fauna. In the surrounding nature reserve, you can spot great-crested grebes, frogs, geese, and mallards.

A Scenic Setting for Wildlife

Luxembourg has many scenic regions, and its government has made a commitment to preserve its native fauna. Waterfowl and reptiles live in its waters, and its forests contain foxes, bears, owls, rodents, and wild cats. Visiting a nature park is a wonderful way to see these unique animals.

Luxembourg Animals

Admiral Butterfly

Stunningly beautiful wings

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

Asian Lady Beetle

Asian lady beetles infest indoor spaces, but they do not reproduce indoors.

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!

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

Bird

Not all birds are able to fly!

Black Widow Spider

They typically prey on insects!

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.

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!

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 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 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

Cuckoo

Deer

There are around 40 different species!

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!

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 Robin

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

European Wildcat

A group of wild cats is called a destruction

Falcon

The fastest creatures on the planet!

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

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

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 Oriole

Migrates between Europe and Asia!

Goose

There are 29 different species!

Grasshopper

There are 11,000 known species!

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.

Insects

There are an estimated 30 million species!

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!

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!

Marsh Frog

Has bright green skin!

Mealybug

They have a symbiotic relationship with ants.

Millipede

Some species have a poisonous bite!

Mole

Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!

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!

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!

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

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

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!

Red Deer

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

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.

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!

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!

Stag Beetle

The stag beetle consumes rotting and decaying wood when it is in the larva stage.

Stick Insect

There are more than 3,000 different species!

Stoat

Average adults weigh about 200 grams!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

Worm

Doesn’t have eyes.

Wryneck

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

Yellowhammer

It interbreeds with the pine bunting

Luxembourg Animals List

About the Author

A-Z Animals Staff

AZ Animals is a growing team of animals experts, researchers, farmers, conservationists, writers, editors, and -- of course -- pet owners who have come together to help you better understand the animal kingdom and how we interact.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What Animals Live in Luxembourg?

Belgium’s forests are home to many popular animals like hedgehogs, red foxes, roe deer and wild boars. It is also home to unique animals like the European bison, a larger relative of the famous American bison.

Luxembourg is famous for its dairy farms, which means you will see many dairy cows and other farm animals in the rural parts of the country.

Are There Bears in Luxembourg?

Luxembourg is home to two native species of bear, the brown bear and the Eurasian brown bear.

Are There Snakes in Luxembourg?

There are snakes in Luxembourg. Like most countries in Europe, Luxembourg does not have many poisonous snakes. The only dangerous snake you may see is the common adder (Vipera berus). The European viper or asp viper (Vipera aspis) is a venomous snake endemic to Europe, but it prefers warmer weather. You are unlikely to see one in Luxembourg.

What Dangerous Animals Live in Luxembourg?

Bear: Bears are not aggressive, but they are not shy about defending their territory. Bear attacks on humans have occurred in Europe, and these attacks can be fatal.

Wild boar: These wild pigs can weigh more than 400 pounds. Their fierce nature and huge, sharp tusks make them fearsome when they attack. The number of wild boar attacks on humans has increased as their population has grown. Most attacks happen during the mating season, which is from November to January.

Castor bean tick: This small bloodsucker is not just unpleasant to find on your skin. The castor bean tick carries many diseases, including Lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis, or Q fever, an infectious disease that can damage your heart, liver, and lungs.

What does the flag of Luxembourg look like?

The flag of Luxembourg is a tricolor with red, white, and blue. Its often mistaken for the Dutch flag, but uses lighter colors.