Animals in Austria
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
The eagle is Austria's great national symbol, and the golden eagle is often named as its national animal, although no law picks a species. The black eagle of the federal coat of arms, adopted in 1919, holds a sickle and a hammer, and broken chains were added in 1945. In the wild, golden eagles nest across the Austrian Alps, with about 40 pairs in Hohe Tauern alone.
View details→Wildlife in Austria
Austria is a landlocked country of about 84,000 square kilometers in the middle of Europe, a little larger than the Czech Republic, with around 9.2 million people, about one in five of them in Vienna. The Alps fill most of the west and south, where the Grossglockner rises to 3,798 meters, while the east opens into the Danube valley, gentle vineyards and the reed beds of Lake Neusiedl, a shallow steppe lake on the Hungarian border. That means glaciers and high meadows on one side of the country and warm, dry plains on the other, each with its own animals. Winters are cold and snowy in the mountains, and the high passes are only open from late spring to autumn, so summer is the season for alpine wildlife, while spring and autumn bring the great bird migrations to the east.
For centuries farmers have taken their cattle up to summer pastures in the mountains, and forestry and hunting shaped the valleys below, which kept deer and chamois common while the large predators were hunted out. Austria's first national park, Hohe Tauern, was created in 1981 and is the largest in Central Europe, and the country now has six. One of them exists because of a protest: in 1984 thousands of people occupied the Danube floodplain forest near Hainburg to stop a dam, and the area became a national park in 1996. In 2017 the old beech forests of the Kalkalpen and Dürrenstein became Austria's only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wolves have also come back on their own, with the first pack born in 2016 on a military training area in the north, and 121 wolves confirmed in 2025.
Tourism is a big part of life, and 2025 brought record overnight stays, about three quarters of them by visitors from abroad. People come to ski in winter, to hike and drive the Grossglockner High Alpine Road in summer, and to see Vienna, Salzburg and the lakes. Wildlife follows these contrasts: wild goats, marmots, eagles and vultures in the high Alps, deer, wolves and wild cats in the forests, and storks, cranes and waterbirds on the eastern plains.
Most Dangerous Animals in Austria
Austria is a very safe country when it comes to wildlife, and serious incidents with wild animals are rare. The most common real risk is a snake bite. Austria has two kinds of venomous snake, both vipers: one lives in sunny meadows, moors and rocky slopes up to high in the Alps, and the other is found only in warm, rocky places in the far south of Carinthia and Styria. They are shy and bite only when someone steps on them or reaches into rocks or grass without looking, so sturdy boots and long pants help on mountain trails. Bites are rarely dangerous for healthy adults, but anyone who is bitten should see a doctor, and children need care quickly.
Wolves have returned to several regions, but they avoid people and attacks on humans are practically unknown; their conflict is with farmers whose sheep graze unguarded on summer pastures. Lynx and wild cats are shy and harmless to people. Wild boars live mostly in the forests of the east and north, and a sow with piglets or a wounded animal can charge, so it is best to keep your distance and keep dogs on a leash. Boars and deer also cause road accidents, especially at dawn and dusk, so drivers should slow down near forests.
Top 10 Animals in Austria
Many of Austria's best known animals live high in the Alps, and summer is the time to look for them. Marmots are the easiest: along the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, and especially around the Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe viewpoint, they whistle and sun themselves right next to the paths. In the Krumltal, a side valley of Rauris in Hohe Tauern, up to 100 griffon vultures spend the summer between May and September, young birds that fly in from the Balkans, and golden eagles and peregrine falcons hunt over the same ridges. The European adder lives in these high meadows too, often in an all black form. Wolves are harder to see: the first pack settled in the forests of the Waldviertel in the north, and young wolves from the Italian Alps wander into Tyrol, Salzburg and Carinthia. The Eurasian lynx is rarer still, with a small population in Kalkalpen National Park, where lynx from Switzerland were released in 2011, 2013 and 2017. Red deer live in forests all over the country, and in September and October the roaring of the stags fills the mountain valleys. White tailed eagles came back from near extinction, and about half of their breeding pairs live in the Waldviertel, while in winter they gather along the Danube. In Rust, on Lake Neusiedl, storks nest on the chimneys of the old town every summer. Hedgehogs are still common in gardens, yet in 2024 the IUCN moved them to near threatened because their numbers are falling.
Golden Jackal
Canis aureus
Austria sits at the expanding northwestern edge of the golden jackal's European range. Individuals and small groups have been recorded with increasing regularity since the 2000s, mainly in the lowland areas of eastern Austria near the Hungarian and Slovak borders. They move through wetlands, river corridors, and farmland, demonstrating how naturally this species spreads into new territories. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Alpine Ibex
Capra ibex
In Austria, the Alpine ibex was hunted out and later brought back with ibexes descended from the Gran Paradiso herd. Today it lives in colonies across the Austrian Alps, with some of the best known in the Hohe Tauern National Park, where herds graze on high ridges in summer and on steep, sunny slopes in winter. The animals often come quite close to hikers and are easiest to spot early in the morning. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Badger
Meles meles
The European badger is widespread across Austria in deciduous and mixed woodland, forest edges and farmland, from the lowlands and vineyards of the east to the forested lower slopes of the Alps. It lives in family clans in setts used for generations and is active mainly at night, feeding on earthworms, insects, fruit, maize and small animals. Populations are considered stable. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Chamois
Rupicapra rupicapra
Austria is one of the great strongholds of the chamois, called Gams here, with animals across the Eastern Alps from the Hohe Tauern to the Karwendel and Gesäuse. Hunting follows strict quotas, and the Gamsbart, a tuft of winter back hair from males, still decorates traditional hats. The chamois sent to New Zealand in 1907 came from Styria. Sarcoptic mange hits some eastern populations. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Hare
Lepus europaeus
In Austria, the European hare is most common in the warm, open farmland of the east, in Lower Austria, Burgenland and the Vienna Basin, and it also lives in meadows on the lower slopes of the Alps. Numbers have fallen in recent decades as fields grew larger and pesticide use increased, and hunters now count hares in spring before deciding how many can be taken each autumn. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Hedgehog
Erinaceus europaeus
The European hedgehog lives in gardens, orchards and woodland edges across Austria, up to the Alpine foothills. Austria lies on the border between it and its eastern relative, the northern white breasted hedgehog, and in the east of the country the two share the land. Hedgehogs here hibernate through the cold winters for several months. Austria is one of the countries where numbers are falling, mainly because of roads and pesticides. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Gray Wolf
Canis lupus
The gray wolf returned to Austria naturally after decades of absence, with individuals dispersing from recovering populations in Italy and Slovenia. Sightings and confirmed activity have been recorded mainly in the Alpine regions. The population remains very small, and each wolf that settles in Austria attracts considerable public debate. Coexistence between wolves and livestock farming in the Alps is one of the central conservation challenges facing the country today. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Italian Wolf
Canis lupus italicus
Wolves have been returning to Austria gradually, dispersing from populations in Italy and Slovenia. Sightings and confirmed territories are recorded mainly in the southern and eastern regions, including Styria and Carinthia. The population is still in an early stage of reestablishment, and individual wolves often travel vast distances before settling. Conservation efforts focus on monitoring movements and supporting coexistence between wolves and local farming communities.
Alpine Marmot
Marmota marmota
The Alpine marmot is native across the Austrian Alps, with colonies on the high meadows and rocky slopes of Tyrol, Salzburg and Carinthia. Hohe Tauern National Park is a stronghold, and the marmots at the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe on the Grossglockner road are famous with visitors. Families hibernate together for months, and marmots are still hunted under quotas, partly for their fat, an old folk remedy. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Marten
Martes martes / Martes foina
Austria has both martens. The pine marten lives in mountain and mixed forests across the Alps and the hills of Styria and Carinthia, while the stone marten has moved into villages and cities, Vienna and Graz included, where it sleeps in attics and garages. Austrian drivers know it well, because stone martens climb into parked cars and bite through cables and hoses. Both hunt rodents and birds at night and eat fruit. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Lynx
Lynx lynx
The Eurasian lynx was hunted out of Austria in the 19th century and has returned only in small numbers. Most live in the north along the Bohemian Forest, linked to the lynx of Czechia and Bavaria, and in Kalkalpen National Park, where lynx were released between 2011 and 2017. Single animals also wander in from Switzerland, Slovenia and Italy. Roe deer and chamois are its main prey, and illegal killing still holds it back. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Deer
Cervus elaphus
Austria holds one of Central Europe's most robust red deer populations, found across the Alpine forests and mountain valleys that cover much of the country. Stags are a familiar sight in regions such as Tyrol and Styria, where regulated hunting and careful forest management help keep numbers in balance. The species is deeply woven into Austrian hunting culture and rural tradition. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
The red fox is one of Austria's most familiar wild animals, found from Alpine valleys and mountain forests up to the tree line down to the farmland and wetlands of the Vienna Basin. Oral vaccine baits dropped over the countryside wiped out rabies in foxes, and Austria was declared rabies free in 2008. Today foxes are also common in cities like Vienna and Graz, where they raise their kits in parks and gardens. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Squirrel
Sciurus vulgaris
Austria's extensive alpine and subalpine forests provide ideal habitat for the red squirrel, which is common throughout the country. It thrives in the spruce and pine forests of the Alps, where it relies on cone seeds as a primary food source. Austria has no gray squirrel population, so the red squirrel faces no competition from that invasive species here. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Roe Deer
Capreolus capreolus
Austria holds one of Central Europe's healthiest roe deer populations. The species is widespread across the Alpine foothills, the Vienna Woods, and the agricultural lowlands of the Pannonian region. It adapts well to both dense forest and open farmland edges. Hunting is carefully managed under Austrian wildlife law, with annual quotas set by region. It remains one of the country's most commonly seen wild mammals. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
Wild boars are widespread in the lowland forests of Austria, with strong numbers in the floodplain woods of the Danube and the March and Thaya rivers east of Vienna. Mild winters and plenty of corn have helped them grow in recent decades, and they now forage at the edges of towns and even parts of Vienna. Hunting is the main tool used to keep their numbers in check. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Raccoons reached Austria from the large populations of neighboring Germany and are now found in many parts of the country, especially in the riverside forests along the Danube and its tributaries. They are listed as an invasive species and are subject to hunting regulations. In Austria, as in Germany, it is illegal to keep a single raccoon as a pet, and an outdoor enclosure is required. IUCN status: Least Concern.
European Wildcat
Felis silvestris
Austria considered the European wildcat extinct from the 1950s, but genetic tests from hair traps have confirmed its return since 2007, first in Thayatal National Park and Carinthia. In 2022 researchers reported a population of its own in the Wachau, on the Danube, and there are records from most provinces, partly from cats coming in from neighboring countries. Numbers are still small, and crossbreeding with house cats is a key concern. IUCN status: Least Concern.
European Adder
Vipera berus
In Austria, the European adder, or Kreuzotter, lives mainly in the Alps and in the cool uplands of the north, such as the Bohemian Forest and the Waldviertel, in mountain meadows, bogs, rocky slopes and forest edges, up to high altitudes. It is one of two venomous snakes in the country, together with the nose-horned viper of the south. It is protected, and faces pressure from habitat loss and road traffic. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Griffon Vulture
Gyps fulvus
The griffon vulture does not breed in Austria, but every summer 100 to 120 of them arrive in the Hohe Tauern National Park. They come from colonies in Friuli in Italy and the northwestern Balkans, and most are young birds. They spend the alpine pasture season soaring over the high meadows, feeding on the carcasses of sheep and wild animals, and leave again in autumn. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eagle Owl
Bubo bubo
The Eurasian eagle owl was once nearly wiped out in Austria due to hunting and persecution, but conservation efforts helped it recover strongly from the late twentieth century onward. Today it lives in rocky river valleys, the foothills of the Alps, and forested gorges. Austria's population is considered stable, and the species is legally protected. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
Saker Falcon
Falco cherrug
Austria is one of the saker falcon's success stories in Europe. After nearly disappearing, the species now breeds again in the lowlands of the east, mainly in Lower Austria and Burgenland near the borders with Slovakia and Hungary, where more than 50 territorial pairs were counted in 2021. Many nest on electricity pylons, and insulated power lines have cut electrocution losses. The IUCN lists the saker falcon as Endangered.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
The barn owl is a resident of lowland Austria, found in the agricultural landscapes of the Danube valley, the Vienna Basin, and the eastern plains. It nests in old farm buildings, church towers, and hollow trees, and hunts mice and voles in open fields. Populations have declined in recent decades due to changes in farming practices and the loss of nesting sites, and nest box programs are now widely used to support the species.
White tailed Eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla
Austria has seen a strong recovery of the white tailed eagle in recent decades. Once wiped out by persecution, it returned as a breeding bird, and pairs now nest along the Danube and March floodplains and around the lakes of the east. Strict legal protection made this possible, and more eagles arrive in winter. The Donau Auen National Park is a good place to see it. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Crane
Grus grus
Austria lies on the migration route of common cranes traveling between the Baltic region and Hungary. Flocks pass over the country each autumn and spring, and numbers have grown with the recovery of the European population. They rest on farmland and wetlands in the east, especially around Lake Neusiedl and the Seewinkel, and in the Waldviertel in the north, where a few pairs have recently started to breed. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Stork
Ciconia ciconia
The white stork has a small but growing breeding population in Austria, concentrated mainly in the northeastern lowlands of the Marchfeld plain and along the Danube floodplains. After disappearing as a regular breeder during much of the twentieth century, conservation efforts and habitat restoration have helped pairs reestablish themselves. The birds feed in wet grasslands and agricultural fields. IUCN status: Least Concern.
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
The white wagtail is a common breeding bird throughout Austria, nesting along the banks of the Danube and its tributaries, as well as in Alpine river valleys. It builds its nest in crevices of stone walls, bridges and farm buildings. Most birds leave for Africa in autumn, though a few linger in milder lowland areas through winter. Its status is Least Concern.
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
Austria's peregrine falcon population made a strong comeback after the DDT era, and the species now breeds on limestone cliff faces across the Alps and in river gorges throughout the country. Urban pairs have also taken to nesting on cathedral spires and tall buildings in cities like Vienna and Graz. Conservation efforts coordinated by local wildlife groups helped guide this recovery. Its IUCN status is Least Concern.
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
The mute swan is one of the largest waterbirds in Europe, easily recognized by its white plumage, curved neck, and orange bill. In Austria, it is a familiar sight on the Danube River, alpine lakes, and urban ponds. Pairs often stay together for life, and both parents protect the nest with great determination. The IUCN lists this species as Least Concern.
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos
In Austria, nightingales breed mainly in the warmer lowlands of the east, around Vienna, in Burgenland and along the floodplain forests of the Danube and the March. They favor dense shrubby undergrowth close to water, and their song is a celebrated part of the Austrian spring. Numbers here are generally more stable than in the declining populations farther west. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
The golden eagle lives in the Austrian Alps, where it nests on cliff faces and hunts over high pastures and forested slopes, feeding mainly on marmots, mountain hares, grouse and young chamois. Austria holds a stable population of a few hundred pairs, and Hohe Tauern National Park is one of the best places to see it soaring along the ridges. Pairs keep the same territory for years and often have several nests. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Monk Parakeet
Myiopsitta monachus
The monk parakeet has established a small introduced population in Austria, with sightings concentrated around Vienna. Escaped or released pet birds are the origin of these urban flocks. While not yet widely established, the species is monitored as a potential invasive bird in Central Europe. It tolerates cold winters better than most parrots, which helps it survive in the region. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Magpie
Pica pica
In Austria, the Eurasian magpie is a common resident of the lowlands and valleys, especially in the east, around Vienna, in Lower Austria and Burgenland, where farmland, orchards and riverside woods meet. It has also moved into towns and is a familiar sight in Viennese parks. It is scarce in the high Alps, where forests are dense and winters harsh, and it does not migrate. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Frequently Asked Questions
What animals live in Austria?
Austria is home to gray wolves, Eurasian lynx, European wildcats, red foxes, golden jackals, badgers, martens, raccoons, wild boars, red deer, roe deer, chamois, alpine ibex, alpine marmots, hares, red squirrels and hedgehogs. Its birds include the golden eagle, white tailed eagle, griffon vulture, peregrine and saker falcons, eagle owl, barn owl, crane, stork, mute swan, nightingale, white wagtail and Eurasian magpie. The European adder lives in meadows and moors up to high in the Alps.
What is the national animal of Austria?
Austria's national animal is the eagle, and the golden eagle is the species most often named, although no law makes it official. The federal coat of arms shows a black eagle with a crown shaped like a city wall, a sickle and a hammer, standing for the middle class, farmers and workers, and the broken chains on its claws, added in 1945, mark the country's freedom after the Second World War. Real golden eagles nest in cliffs all across the Austrian Alps.
Are there wolves in Austria?
Yes. The last wolf in Austria disappeared in 1882, and for more than a century only a few wandered in from neighboring countries. In 2016 a pair raised pups on the Allentsteig military training area in the Waldviertel, the first wolves born in the country in over 100 years. Since then wolves from Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and the Italian Alps have spread into several regions, and the official report for 2025 confirmed 121 wolves and eight packs. They are protected, but some provinces allow problem wolves to be shot.
Are there venomous snakes in Austria?
Yes, two species, and both are vipers. The European adder is the most widespread and lives in meadows, moors and rocky slopes, from the lowlands up to more than 2,000 meters in the Alps, often in an all black form. The nose horned viper is found only in a few warm, rocky areas in the far south of Carinthia and Styria, at the northern edge of its range. The other snakes in Austria are harmless, and bites from vipers are uncommon and rarely serious for healthy adults.
Where can you see marmots in Austria?
Alpine marmots live in high mountain meadows all over the Austrian Alps, usually above the tree line. The easiest place to see them is the Grossglockner High Alpine Road in Hohe Tauern National Park, open from early May to early November, where marmots are often seen beside the road and around the Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe viewpoint, at the foot of the Grossglockner. They are most active in the morning and late afternoon, and they whistle loudly to warn each other when an eagle or a person comes too close.
Researched and written by Juan Pablo. Sources: IUCN Red List, scientific literature and regional field guides. Last updated: .