Animals in Belarus
European Bison
Bison bonasus
The European bison, or zubr, is widely seen as the national animal of Belarus, a symbol it shares with Poland. Hunting wiped out the last wild bison of Belovezhskaya Pushcha in 1919, and the species survived only in zoos. Bred back from those animals, Belarus had 2,927 bison in 2024, about a quarter of the world total.
View details→Wildlife in Belarus
Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe of about 207,600 square kilometers, a little smaller than the United Kingdom, with around 9.1 million people, roughly one in five of them in Minsk. It is one of the flattest countries in Europe, and its highest hill barely passes 340 meters, so instead of mountains its landscape is made of forests, rivers, lakes and bogs. About two fifths of the country is forest. The north is a land of more than 10,000 lakes, the largest of them Lake Naroch, while the south is Polesia, one of the biggest wetlands in Europe, where the Pripyat River floods huge areas of meadow and marsh every spring. Winters are long, cold and snowy and summers are warm, so spring floods and autumn migration are the best times for birds, while winter snow makes it easier to follow tracks in the forest.
For centuries people lived from farming, forestry and the rivers, and in Soviet times large parts of Polesia were drained for fields, which wiped out much of its marshland. The oldest protected forest is Belovezhskaya Pushcha on the Polish border, a royal hunting ground recorded as early as 1409, which became a national park in 1991 and, together with the Polish side, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. The Berezinsky reserve in the north was created in 1925 to protect wild game, and today it is a UNESCO biosphere reserve. After the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, the contaminated land near the Ukrainian border became the Polesie State Radioecological Reserve, about 2,160 square kilometers where people left and wildlife moved back in.
Tourism is modest, but citizens of 38 European countries can now visit without a visa for up to 30 days, at least until the end of 2026. Most visitors see Minsk and the castles of Mir and Nesvizh, then head to Belovezhskaya Pushcha, the lakes of Naroch and Braslaw or a stay on a rural farm. Wildlife follows these contrasts: bison, wolves and big cats in the old forests, bears and deer in the north, and storks, cranes and countless waterbirds in the marshes of the south.
Most Dangerous Animals in Belarus
Belarus has more large wild animals than most of Europe, but serious incidents with people are rare. Bears live mainly in the forests of the north; they usually avoid people, but they can be dangerous if surprised at close range or when a mother is with her cubs, so it is wise to make some noise on forest trails and never approach one. Bison look calm, yet a full grown bull is the heaviest land animal in Europe and can charge if someone walks too close, so in Belovezhskaya Pushcha they should be watched from a distance or from the official viewing areas. Wolves are common, but attacks on people are very rare; their conflict is with farmers and hunters. The lynx is shy and harmless to people. Wild boars can charge when wounded or protecting their young, and moose are a real danger on the roads, especially at dusk and at night in autumn and winter, so drivers should slow down near forests and marshes.
The country has only one venomous snake, a viper that lives in bogs, wet meadows and forest clearings. It bites only when stepped on or handled. Bites are rarely dangerous for healthy adults, but anyone who is bitten should see a doctor.
Top 10 Animals in Belarus
Belarus is one of the best places in Europe to see big forest animals, and most of them live in a handful of well known reserves. Belovezhskaya Pushcha is the first stop: about 700 European bison live there, the largest herd in the country, and the forest is also home to gray wolves, the Eurasian lynx, red deer and moose. In winter, when snow covers the ground, bison often gather near feeding places at the edge of the forest, which makes them easier to see. Brown bears live mostly in the north, and the Berezinsky reserve, about 100 kilometers north of Minsk, is the best known place for them: a 2024 survey counted between 54 and 64 adults and 17 cubs inside the reserve. Moose and red deer are common across the forests and marshes of the whole country, and the rut of the stags fills the woods with roaring in September. In the south, the villages of the Pripyat floodplain are famous for storks, which nest on roofs, poles and old trees, and white tailed eagles hunt over the rivers and fishponds of Polesia. The European adder lives in bogs and forest clearings and is the only venomous snake in the country.
Badger
Meles meles
The European badger lives across Belarus in mixed and deciduous forests, especially where sandy soils make digging setts easy, including the great forests of Białowieża on the Polish border. It is nocturnal and lives in family groups, feeding mainly on earthworms, insects, roots and berries. It is a regular though rarely seen part of the country's woodland wildlife and spends the coldest weeks underground. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Brown Bear
Ursus arctos
Belarus has brown bears mainly in the large forests and wetlands of the north and east, such as the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve, with fewer in the Polesia region of the south. These bears are part of the large population that continues into Russia. They feed on berries, oats, ants and carrion. Poaching and logging are the main pressures on them. IUCN status: Least Concern.
European Bison
Bison bonasus
The European bison is a national symbol of Belarus, and the country holds nearly 3,000 of them, about a quarter of the world total. Belovezhskaya Pushcha, the Belarusian half of the Białowieża Forest, is home to the oldest herd. Hunted out of the wild by the 1920s, bison were returned here from breeding centers, and herds now also live in other forests and national parks. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Hare
Lepus europaeus
Across Belarus, the European hare lives in farmland, meadows, forest edges and the open land around villages, and it is one of the country's most familiar game animals. Large collective farm fields, wetland drainage and changes in crops over the last century reshaped its habitat, and numbers rise and fall with harsh winters and wet springs, which are hard on young leverets. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Gray Wolf
Canis lupus
Belarus holds one of the more significant wolf populations in Europe, supported by the country's extensive forests and wetlands. The Białowieża Forest, which Belarus shares with Poland, is among the most important habitats for wolves on the continent. Wolves are managed as a game species in Belarus and are legally hunted. Despite this, numbers remain relatively stable, and the country plays a key role in maintaining wolf connectivity across Eastern Europe. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Pine Marten
Martes martes
Belarus is pine marten country. The species lives in forests across the whole country, from the pine woods and marshes of Polesia in the south to Białowieża Forest on the Polish border, one of the best preserved lowland forests in Europe. It dens in old hollow trees and hunts voles, squirrels and birds, and it is still a game species here. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Stone Marten
Martes foina
The stone marten also lives in Belarus, but it is much scarcer than the pine marten and keeps mostly to villages, farm buildings and town edges. It shelters in barns and old houses, hunts mice, rats and birds at night and eats berries and fruit in late summer. Belarus lies near the northern edge of its range. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Lynx
Lynx lynx
Belarus is one of the few countries in Central Europe where the Eurasian lynx was never wiped out. It lives in large lowland forests and wetlands, including the Białowieża Forest shared with Poland and the forests of Polesia, and its numbers are estimated in the hundreds. Roe deer and hares are its main prey, and it shares these woods with wolves, moose and the European bison. It is one of the most important lynx strongholds in Central Europe. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Deer
Cervus elaphus
The red deer is present across the lowland forests and river floodplains of Belarus, with the Białowieża Forest shared with Poland being among the most celebrated habitats in the country. Populations have grown steadily in recent decades thanks to hunting regulations and the protection of large forest reserves. Belarus represents an important stronghold for the species in Eastern Europe. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
In Belarus, the red fox is one of the most common carnivores, living in the country's vast mixed forests, peat bogs, river floodplains and farmland, including the Belovezhskaya Pushcha on the Polish border. It hunts voles and mice in fields and meadows, takes hares and birds, and eats berries in autumn. It is hunted for its fur and to control rabies, and it often lives close to villages and the edges of towns. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Squirrel
Sciurus vulgaris
Belarus is home to healthy red squirrel populations spread across its vast lowland forests, including the ancient Białowieża Forest shared with Poland. The country's extensive pine and mixed woodlands offer abundant food and nesting sites. Without pressure from gray squirrels, the species remains widespread and stable throughout Belarusian territory. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Roe Deer
Capreolus capreolus
Belarus supports robust roe deer populations across its vast lowland forests and wetland margins, including the Białowieża Forest, which it shares with Poland. The country's extensive mixed and coniferous woodlands provide ideal habitat. Roe deer are active at dawn and dusk, feeding on a wide range of plants. The species is carefully managed through regulated hunting. It is among the most abundant ungulates in Belarus. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
Wild boars are widespread in the forests and marshes of Belarus, including Belovezhskaya Pushcha, one of the last large primeval forests of Europe, shared with Poland. They are a traditional game animal and an important prey for wolves and lynx. Since African swine fever reached the region, authorities have cut their numbers sharply to slow the spread of the virus. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Moose
Alces alces
Belarus is home to one of Central Europe's largest moose populations, living across its vast forests and wetlands, which include some of the largest bogs in Europe. Białowieża Forest, shared with Poland, and the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve offer some of the best habitat. Moose feed on willows and water plants along riverbanks and marshy clearings, and the species is hunted under regulated quotas. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Mountain Hare
Lepus timidus
In Belarus the mountain hare lives in the forests and wide bogs of the north and center of the country, at the southern edge of its range in Europe. It turns white in winter and was once an important game animal, but it has become much less common, while the brown hare dominates the farmland. Wolves, Eurasian lynx and red foxes are among its predators, and milder winters work against it. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Otter
Lutra lutra
Belarus has a strong otter population, especially in Polesia, the vast region of marshes, rivers and floodplain forests around the Pripyat River in the south, one of the largest wetlands in Europe. Otters also live along rivers and lakes in the north. They share these wild wetlands with white tailed eagles, cranes and storks, and the forests with European bison, wolves, moose and Eurasian lynx. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
European Adder
Vipera berus
The European adder is one of the most commonly seen snakes in Belarus, found in forests, bogs and wet meadows throughout the country. It thrives in the vast wetlands and woodlands of the lowlands, including Polesia and the Belovezhskaya Pushcha reserve on the Polish border. It hibernates for several months each winter and is the country's only venomous snake. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eagle Owl
Bubo bubo
The Eurasian eagle owl is an uncommon but regular resident in Belarus, where it favors old forests mixed with open areas, river valleys, and patches of rocky or sandy terrain. The Belarusian population is relatively small compared to neighboring countries. It hunts nocturnally for rodents, hares, and birds. The IUCN considers it Least Concern, and it is legally protected within Belarus.
Saker Falcon
Falco cherrug
Belarus lies on the western edge of the saker falcon's range in Eastern Europe, where the bird occurs mainly as a rare migrant or occasional visitor. The open agricultural plains and river valleys of Belarus could offer suitable stopover habitat during migration. Populations across Eastern Europe have declined sharply, and the IUCN lists this falcon as Endangered, with illegal trapping and power line collisions among the main causes.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
The barn owl reaches the eastern edge of its European range in Belarus, where it is a rare and local resident in the western and central parts of the country. It is far less common than other owl species and is considered scarce across most of its range in Belarus. It nests in old farm buildings and church towers in open agricultural areas and hunts small rodents at night in meadows and field margins.
White tailed Eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla
Belarus is one of the strongholds of the white tailed eagle in eastern Europe. The vast floodplains, oxbow lakes and forests of the Pripyat region, including the Pripyat Polesie wetlands, support a healthy breeding population. It nests in tall trees near open water and hunts mainly fish. Many birds also spend the winter here, near unfrozen rivers and fishponds. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Crane
Grus grus
Belarus is one of the most significant breeding countries for the common crane in central Europe. The vast peatlands, forest bogs and river floodplains that cover much of the country provide ideal nesting habitat. Pairs build large nests close to water and return to the same territories each spring. Belarusian cranes also gather in large flocks before autumn migration. The species is classified as Least Concern and has benefited from the country's extensive areas of undrained wetland.
Stork
Ciconia ciconia
Belarus holds one of the largest white stork breeding populations in Europe, with about 20,000 pairs counted in the 2004/05 census. The floodplain meadows, marshes, and river valleys of the Pripyat basin provide ideal feeding habitat. Belarusian villages are famous for their stork nests perched on wooden poles and barn rooftops, and the bird is deeply woven into rural culture. IUCN status: Least Concern.
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
The white wagtail is one of the most common breeding birds of Belarus, found in every region along rivers such as the Pripyat, Dnieper and Neman, around lakes and ponds, and in villages and towns. It nests in woodpiles, barns, bridges and wall crevices, arrives in late March or April, and leaves in September and October for wintering grounds around the Mediterranean and in Africa. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
The peregrine falcon is a rare and carefully monitored breeding bird in Belarus. It nests in forested areas, often using old nests of other large birds in tall trees near rivers and wetlands, a habit less common elsewhere in its range. The Pripyat River basin and the Belovezhskaya Pushcha region are among the areas where sightings are recorded. Conservation programs support its gradual recovery here. Its IUCN status is Least Concern.
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
The mute swan is a striking waterbird, all white with a long curved neck and a bright orange bill. In Belarus, it breeds on lakes, slow rivers, and the wetlands of the Pripyat River basin, one of the largest floodplain areas in Europe. Both parents share the work of raising their young. The population here is stable and the IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
In Belarus, the golden eagle is a rare breeding bird of the great raised bogs and forests of the south and north, such as the Polesie region. Unlike mountain eagles, these birds nest in tall pines on islands of forest in the middle of the bogs and hunt over the open mires. Only a few dozen pairs are thought to remain, and they are strictly protected. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Magpie
Pica pica
In Belarus, the Eurasian magpie is a common year round resident of farmland, villages, river valleys and the edges of the country's many forests and marshes, and it has become a familiar bird in Minsk and other cities. In winter it gathers near farms and towns to find food. It builds large domed nests of sticks and is quick to spot predators, raising the alarm with its loud chatter. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Frequently Asked Questions
What animals live in Belarus?
Belarus is home to European bison, brown bears, gray wolves, Eurasian lynx, moose, red deer, roe deer, wild boars, red foxes, badgers, martens, hares and red squirrels. Its birds include the white tailed eagle, golden eagle, peregrine and saker falcons, eagle owl, barn owl, crane, stork, mute swan, white wagtail and Eurasian magpie. The European adder, the only venomous snake in the country, lives in bogs and forest clearings.
What is the national animal of Belarus?
The European bison, called zubr in Belarusian, is widely regarded as the national animal of Belarus, and it is also a national symbol of neighboring Poland. It is the largest land animal in Europe. After the last wild bison were killed in the early 20th century, the species was saved from a few animals in zoos, and herds were later returned to the wild. Today Belarus has close to 3,000 bison in several herds, about a quarter of all the European bison in the world.
Are there bears in Belarus?
Yes. Brown bears live in Belarus, mostly in the large forests and bogs of the north, in the Vitebsk and Minsk regions. The Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve is their best known home: a 2024 survey counted 88 to 98 bears in the reserve and the land around it. Bears also move in from Russia and have been recorded in other parts of the country, including the Chernobyl exclusion zone in the south. They are protected and rarely seen, because they avoid people.
Where can you see bison in Belarus?
The best place is Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, on the border with Poland, where about 700 European bison live in the wild, the largest herd in the country. Visitors can also see bison in large enclosures near the park's museum, and in winter wild herds often come to feeding places at the forest edge. Smaller free ranging herds live in other parts of the country, including the Hrodna region and the Polesie radioecological reserve near Chernobyl, which has around 100 bison.
What animals live in the Chernobyl zone in Belarus?
The Belarusian side of the Chernobyl exclusion zone is the Polesie State Radioecological Reserve, created after the 1986 disaster on about 2,160 square kilometers near the border with Ukraine. With no people living there, wildlife has returned in large numbers: studies have found that moose, red deer, roe deer, wild boars and wolves are thriving, around 100 European bison roam the reserve, and brown bears have been recorded there too. The area is closed to the public, and visits need special permission.
Researched and written by Juan Pablo. Sources: IUCN Red List, scientific literature and regional field guides. Last updated: .