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The most dangerous animals in Europe

The Portuguese man o' war is one of the most dangerous animals in Europe
The Portuguese Man o' War looks fascinating at first glance, but it should only be observed from a distance because it is one of the most dangerous creatures in Europe! Photo: Getty Images

August 10, 2024, 6:29 am | Read time: 6 minutes

Many people probably think of Australia, the African savanna, or the rainforest when they think of dangerous animals. However, there are also many dangerous animals that we and our pets can encounter on vacation in Europe. PETBOOK presents the most well-known dangerous animals in Europe and describes how you can best protect yourself and your dogs from them.

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Especially in the summer, many people want to go on vacation to forget the stresses of everyday life. But whether it’s the Mediterranean or the north, there are animals in many places in Europe that can be dangerous for us and our pets on vacation. PETBOOK introduces some of these animals and shows you where you may meet them. And also how to protect yourself and your pets.

Brown bears

The brown bear, reaching lengths of up to 2.8 meters (ca. 9.1 feet) and a living weight of 550 kilograms (1,212 pounds), is the largest predatory animal in Europe. According to estimates, there are still 17,000 of them left. According to the WWF, most brown bears live in the Carpathian Mountains in Romania. However, smaller populations can also be found in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, Norway, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, and Greece.

There are also said to be some bears in the Alps. As a result, the South Tyrol region has even set up its own monitoring system. Particular caution is advised from May to July. This is when the animals are most active during the mating season. But even in spring, when they wake up hungry from hibernation, care should be taken when hiking in the areas concerned.

Portuguese man o’ war

This creature looks like a jellyfish and is often referred to as such. However, it is actually a colony of individual polyps that work together, functioning as a single entity. They glide through the water as a large carpet and form a complex structure.

However, the Portuguese man o’ war is not only one of the most fascinating animals in Europe. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most dangerous. Its tentacles, which can extend up to 50 meters (54.6 yards), are capable of inflicting painful, welt-inducing injuries. These pose a significant danger to both humans and dogs. They are mainly found in the Pacific, but you should also beware of them when on vacation in the Canary Islands or Portugal.

Mosquitoes and sand flies

If you go to Southern Europe, there are usually mosquito species that are not yet native to Germany. The sand fly in particular, which is widespread around the Mediterranean, can be dangerous. Sand flies transmit various parasites, including Leishmania, which can cause serious illness in dogs and cats.

Mosquitoes can cause dirofilarosis, better known as heartworm disease. Leishmaniasis and dirofilarosis are widespread throughout the Mediterranean region. It can be countered with vaccinations and insecticides, even if these do not promise 100 percent protection.

Wolf

Wolves have made a comeback and are now living in many areas of Europe once more. Especially if you spend your vacation close to nature rather than on the beach, you may pass through areas where they are once again native. Among other things, NABU has published a wolf monitoring map for the whole of Europe on its website.

Even though wolves generally have a rather bad reputation, humans should have less fear of them, as studies show that the statistical probability of an attack is close to zero. You can find out more about this in this article: What should I do if I encounter a wolf?

Brown violin spider

The brown violin spider (Loxosceles rufescens) belongs to the sand spider family and is native to the Mediterranean region and northern Africa. With its potent venom, the spider is definitely one of the most dangerous animals in Europe, as it causes deep, expanding wounds.

Loxoscelism, which was named after them, causes tissue around the bite site to continue to die for ten days after the bite. In the worst cases, these necroses can even be fatal, as the Italian medium Radiotelevizione Italiana (RAI) recently reported. However, cases of this kind are extremely rare, as the eight-legged animals are very shy. Reports that other Loxosceles species with even more potent poisons are now spreading in Europe have not yet been confirmed.

Wolverine

If you are drawn to cooler climates in summer, you may also encounter wolverines on a vacation in Scandinavia. While attacks on humans by these relatives of the marten are also rather rare, their bite force alone makes them one of the most dangerous animals in Europe. Their bite force is often cited as being 1,000 kilograms (ca. 2,204 pounds). This enables them to effortlessly crush and consume the bones of carrion.

However, the wolverine also preys on living prey, using its biting force to directly sever the arteries of the animal’s throat. Caution is therefore advised if you come across one on vacation. Incidentally, the wolverine did not get its name because it is so voracious. In fact, the name “Wolverine” is the result of a mistranslation from Old Norse, in which “fjellfräs” actually means “mountain cat”.

Wild boar

Wild boars can also be classified as quite defensive animals. In fact, without prior knowledge, people usually have more respect for wild boars with their tusks, but it is the females with their young that you should be careful of. If the female sees their offspring as threatened, they will quickly attack humans and dogs. However, there are also de-escalating behaviors that should be used here.

Moose

Moose also pose a certain danger when on vacation in Scandinavia. These animals are quite territorial, especially when they are rearing offspring in May and June. They defend themselves with hooves and antlers if they feel threatened. However, in addition to the danger to hikers, they also pose a threat to tourists traveling by car. The animals, which can be up to three meters (ca. 9.8 feet) tall, can cause serious damage to small cars in the event of a head-on collision. They may even break through the windscreen. Therefore, upon encountering one, it is recommended to slow down and, if possible, safely avoid them, following the guidelines from the WWF.

Sea urchins

Whether poisonous or not, the spines of sea urchins cause deep wounds to vacationers and dogs that step on them. Over 950 species of these animals are known, many of which can also be found in the Mediterranean. Some are venomous, but the non-venomous ones also pose a great danger. The animals in the echinoderm family are usually very well hidden between rocks or in reefs. If you accidentally step on them, their long, chalky spines penetrate deep into your feet on contact and break off inside the wound. In these cases, the spines must be professionally removed by a doctor. However, wearing sturdy bathing shoes can easily prevent such injuries.

More on the topic

Ticks

Similar to mosquitoes, ticks can also transmit many diseases and are therefore also among the most dangerous animals in Europe. In Germany, people are more used to Lyme disease and can protect themselves and their dogs against it with vaccinations. However, babesiosis is also becoming more widespread but can be treated well with malaria medication. In vacation destinations in Europe, the brown dog tick can also cause ehrlichiosis, which is one of the Mediterranean diseases and causes vomiting, fever, and breathing difficulties in dogs. Tick prophylaxis can prevent this condition.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of PETBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@petbook.de.

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