Animals in Belgium
Lion
Heraldic symbol
The lion is Belgium's national animal, although lions never lived there. The golden lion on a black shield comes from the Duchy of Brabant, and a crowned lion, the Leo Belgicus, stood for the Low Countries from the 16th century. The coat of arms set by royal decree in 1837 shows it above the motto Unity makes strength.
Wildlife in Belgium
Belgium is one of the smallest countries in Europe, about 30,700 square kilometers, yet nearly 12 million people live there, which makes it one of the most densely populated. The north, Flanders, is flat and busy, a patchwork of towns, farms, canals and the sandy heaths of the Kempen, with a North Sea coast only about 67 kilometers long. The south, Wallonia, rises into the hills and deep river valleys of the Ardennes, where most of the country's forests grow and the High Fens plateau reaches 694 meters at Signal de Botrange, the highest point in Belgium. The climate is mild and wet all year, with cool summers and few hard frosts near the sea, so wildlife can be watched in any season, although autumn brings the deer rut and spring the return of migrating birds.
Centuries of farming, industry and growing cities left little wild land in Flanders, while the Ardennes kept its forests thanks to hunting estates and timber. The High Fens became a nature reserve in 1957 to protect their bogs, and Belgium opened its first national park, Hoge Kempen, in 2006. In 2022 Wallonia created two more, and Flanders added several in 2023. Part of the Sonian Forest outside Brussels joined UNESCO's list of old beech forests in 2017. Wolves came back on their own in 2018, when the first one in about a century settled in Limburg, and today a small population lives in the Kempen and the High Fens.
Most visitors come for Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp, but many Belgians spend their weekends hiking and kayaking in the Ardennes or walking the dunes of the coast. Wildlife follows these contrasts: deer, wild boars, wolves and wild cats in the southern forests, storks, cranes and waterbirds in the wetlands and polders of the north, and seals resting on the beaches and sandbanks of the sea.
Most Dangerous Animals in Belgium
Belgium is a very safe country when it comes to wildlife, and serious incidents with wild animals are rare. The animal people are most likely to run into is the wild boar, which is common in the Ardennes and is spreading north. Boars usually run away, but a sow with piglets in spring or a wounded animal can charge, so keep your distance and keep dogs on a leash in the forest. Boars and deer also cause many road accidents in Wallonia, especially at dawn and dusk in autumn, when drivers should slow down near woods. Wolves are few and very shy, and there have been no attacks on people since they returned; their conflict is with sheep farmers, who are encouraged to use electric fences. Wild cats are harmless to people.
Belgium has only one venomous snake, a viper that lives on heaths and moors, mostly in the Kempen and in a few areas of the south. It is shy and bites only when stepped on or handled, so staying on paths and watching where you sit is enough. Bites are rarely dangerous for healthy adults, but anyone who is bitten should see a doctor.
Top 10 Animals in Belgium
Belgium's best known animals are easier to find than its size suggests, as long as you know where to go. Red deer are the stars of the Ardennes, and in late September and October the roaring of the stags during the rut echoes through the forests around Saint Hubert and the High Fens, where guided evening walks are popular. Gray wolves have returned in small numbers: a pack lives in Limburg in the northeast, and several more roam the High Fens and the forests along the German border, though most people only find their tracks. The European wildcat hunts at night in the Ardennes and is slowly spreading. The European adder lives on the heaths of the Kempen, inside places like Hoge Kempen National Park, where it suns itself on sandy paths in spring. Storks disappeared as breeding birds in the 19th century and were brought back at the Zwin nature park on the coast, which still has the oldest colony in the country, and in 2022 a record 221 nests were counted in Flanders. Harbor seals rest on the beaches and sandbanks near Nieuwpoort and Ostend, peregrine falcons nest on churches and towers in several cities, and hedgehogs are common in gardens and parks.
Badger
Meles meles
The European badger lives mainly in the south of Belgium, in the woods, pastures and hedgerows of Wallonia and the Ardennes, where it is fairly common. In Flanders it is much rarer, mostly in the east, and the regional red list classes it as Vulnerable. Legal protection, road tunnels and better habitat have helped badgers return to areas they had lost in the twentieth century. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Hare
Lepus europaeus
The European hare is found throughout Belgium, especially on the open farmland of Flanders and on the plateaus of Wallonia such as Hesbaye and Condroz. Numbers fell sharply in the second half of the twentieth century with intensive farming and the loss of field margins. Flower strips, uncut field edges and later mowing under agri environment schemes now give hares more food and cover in some areas. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Hedgehog
Erinaceus europaeus
In Belgium, the European hedgehog lives in gardens, parks and hedgerows in both Flanders and Wallonia, hunting beetles, worms and slugs after dark. Winters bring a hibernation that usually runs from November to March. Belgium is among the countries where numbers are dropping, and local studies in Flanders have found declines of up to 50 percent, linked to roads, urban sprawl and tidy gardens with no way through. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Gray Wolf
Canis lupus
The gray wolf returned to Belgium in 2018 after an absence of more than a century, when a female wolf named Naya was confirmed in the Flemish region. Since then, wolves have begun to establish themselves, with the first pups born in the country in 2019. Dispersing from German and Dutch populations, these animals are adapting to a densely populated, largely agricultural landscape. The return of the wolf has sparked lively public debate across Belgium. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Pine Marten
Martes martes
In Belgium, the pine marten is shy and much rarer than its relative. It lives mainly in the forests of the Ardennes and other wooded parts of Wallonia, where it nearly disappeared in the past century, and it is slowly recovering under legal protection. It rests in old trees and squirrel nests and hunts rodents, squirrels and birds at night. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Stone Marten
Martes foina
In Belgium, the stone marten lives across the whole country, cities like Brussels and Antwerp included, and it is well known to drivers because it climbs into car engines and bites cables and hoses. It sleeps in attics, sheds and barns, hunts rats, mice and birds at night and eats a lot of fruit. It is the marten most Belgians have heard, if not seen. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Deer
Cervus elaphus
In Belgium, red deer are most strongly associated with the forests of the Ardennes in the south of the country, where large woodland blocks provide the cover and food sources the species needs. The population is actively managed through regulated hunting to prevent overgrazing of forest vegetation. Red deer are also found in smaller numbers in other forested areas of Wallonia. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
The red fox is widespread across Belgium, from the forests of the Ardennes in the south to the farmland of Flanders and the suburbs of Brussels. Vaccine baits dropped from the air ended rabies in Belgian foxes, and the country was declared rabies free in 2001. Since then, fox numbers have grown and urban foxes are now a familiar sight in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent, where they raise kits in gardens and parks. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Squirrel
Sciurus vulgaris
In Belgium, the red squirrel is most common in the forests of the Ardennes in the south, and it is scattered through the woods, parks and large gardens of Flanders and Brussels, where forest is more fragmented. The gray squirrel has not become established in Belgium, so the main problems are the lack of connected woodland and road traffic. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Roe Deer
Capreolus capreolus
The roe deer is one of Belgium's most recognizable wild mammals, found in the Ardennes forests, the Flemish countryside, and along the wooded corridors of the Walloon region. It adapts well to fragmented landscapes and is frequently spotted along field edges at dusk. Belgium manages its population through regulated hunting seasons. The species continues to thrive despite the country's high level of urbanization. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
In Belgium, wild boars are most common in the forested hills of the Ardennes in the south, where they have grown in number in recent decades and often damage crops and gardens. In 2018, African swine fever was found in wild boars in the Gaume region, near the French border. A large cull and fences stopped the outbreak, and Belgium was declared free of the disease in 2020. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Raccoons entered Belgium from Germany and Luxembourg and are now widespread in Wallonia, especially in the Ardennes forests and river valleys, where a 2023 estimate counted about 60,000 to 70,000. From there they are spreading into Flanders and across the border into Dutch Limburg. Listed as an invasive species of concern to the European Union, they are hard to control once established. IUCN status: Least Concern.
European Wildcat
Felis silvestris
In Belgium the European wildcat lives mainly in Wallonia, in the Ardennes and the Gaume, where its population is linked to those of Luxembourg, Germany's Eifel and France. From there it has been spreading north, and a few cats have reached the edges of Flanders, where it is listed as Critically Endangered. It hunts voles and mice along forest edges and meadows. Roads and crossbreeding with house cats are the main dangers. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Otter
Lutra lutra
In Belgium the otter was declared extinct in Flanders in the late 1980s, driven out by polluted rivers and the loss of wetlands. Around 2012 it began to return, and in 2017 a breeding site was confirmed in the Scheldt valley. Otters now live in parts of Flanders and Wallonia, and projects are restoring wetlands in the Scheldt and Semois valleys. Road traffic is the main threat. It shares the rivers with badgers and wild boar. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Eurasian Beaver
Castor fiber
Beavers vanished from Belgium in the 1800s. Their comeback began between 1998 and 2001, when about 100 beavers from Bavaria were released illegally in the Ardennes, and in 2003 others reached Flanders from the Netherlands. Since then the population has grown fast, especially in Wallonia, where most of the country's beavers live today, and their dams and felled trees are now a familiar sight along Belgian rivers and streams. IUCN status: Least Concern.
European Adder
Vipera berus
In Belgium, the European adder is rare and survives only in a few areas: the heaths and bogs of the Campine in the north, and some heathland and upland bog sites in the south. Habitat loss and fragmentation have made its populations small and isolated, and it is considered one of Belgium's most threatened reptiles. It is legally protected, and heathland restoration projects help it. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eagle Owl
Bubo bubo
The Eurasian eagle owl disappeared from Belgium during the twentieth century due to hunting and habitat loss, but it returned naturally through recolonization from neighboring countries, particularly Germany and Luxembourg. Today small numbers breed in the Ardennes region and along rocky river valleys. It is fully protected under Belgian law. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern across its global range.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
The barn owl is found across Belgium in farmland, open countryside, and rural villages, nesting in old farm buildings, church towers, and hollow trees. It is one of the most familiar owls in the country but populations have declined due to intensive farming and the loss of nesting sites. Conservation programs involving nest box installation on farms and along road verges have helped stabilize numbers in several regions.
Crane
Grus grus
In Belgium, common cranes are primarily seen during spring and autumn migration, with flocks resting and feeding in open farmland and river floodplains. Numbers passing through have grown noticeably in recent decades. Their loud, bugling calls often announce their arrival before the birds come into view. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern, reflecting a healthy and expanding European population.
Puffin
Fratercula arctica
The Atlantic puffin visits Belgium outside the breeding season. Birds from colonies in the British Isles and Norway spend part of the winter at sea in the southern North Sea, and a few are seen off the short Belgian coast, usually far from shore or during seabird counts from boats. After strong winter storms, weakened or dead birds are sometimes found on the beaches. They return to their colonies in spring. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Stork
Ciconia ciconia
The white stork nearly disappeared as a breeding bird in Belgium during the twentieth century, but reintroduction efforts have helped populations recover, especially in the Flanders and Wallonia regions. Storks now nest on platforms set up on rooftops and poles, feeding in wet meadows and along river valleys. Belgium sits on the western migration route toward Gibraltar. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern.
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
The white wagtail is a well known breeding bird in Belgium, nesting along rivers such as the Meuse and Scheldt and in farmland across the country. It readily uses human structures, tucking its nest into walls, barns and even road bridges. Autumn sees most birds head south, but mild winters can keep a few along the coast and in towns. Its status is Least Concern.
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
Belgium's peregrine falcon population has grown steadily since the species recolonized the country in the 1990s after its collapse due to pesticides. Breeding pairs are now well established on church towers, industrial chimneys, and bridges in cities including Brussels, Liège, and Antwerp, as well as on natural cliff faces in the Meuse valley. Nest cams in several cities have turned the species into a beloved urban icon. Its IUCN status is Least Concern.
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
The mute swan is a large waterbird recognized by its white plumage, arched neck, and orange bill. In Belgium, it is a common resident on canals, rivers, and parks across Flanders and Wallonia. The population has grown considerably over recent decades, and the species is now well established in both urban and rural wetlands. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos
The nightingale is a scarce and declining summer visitor to Belgium, found mainly in the warmer southern provinces of Namur and Luxembourg, where ancient coppiced woodland and dense hedgerows still provide suitable nesting habitat. It has largely disappeared from Flanders, where agricultural intensification has removed much of the scrubby undergrowth it needs. Conservationists are working to restore and manage woodland edges for the species. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Monk Parakeet
Myiopsitta monachus
Belgium hosts one of the largest introduced monk parakeet populations in Europe, centered on Brussels. Birds descended from escaped pets have formed stable urban colonies, nesting on trees and buildings across the city. Belgian wildlife authorities keep track of the population due to concerns about its impact on native species and crops. The parakeets are now a well known part of the Brussels urban landscape. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Magpie
Pica pica
In Belgium, the Eurasian magpie is one of the most common birds of towns and farmland, and it is especially numerous in the suburbs of Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent, where gardens, parks and tall trees offer food and nest sites. It stays all year, builds large domed nests that are easy to see in winter, and is often seen walking on lawns in search of insects and worms. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
In Belgium the common kingfisher lives all year along rivers, streams and ponds, from the fish pond areas of Limburg in Flanders to the clear rivers of the Ardennes in Wallonia, such as the Meuse, the Semois and the Ourthe. It nests in steep earth banks along streams and in sand quarries. Cold winters can sharply reduce its numbers, but the population usually recovers within a few breeding seasons. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Harbor Seal
Phoca vitulina
Belgium has the shortest coast in the North Sea, but harbor seals are seen there every year. They rest at the mouth of the Yser in Nieuwpoort, on sandbanks and wrecks offshore, and sometimes on the beach itself, where people are asked to keep their distance. Most are young seals that come from the Netherlands and France. Numbers have grown as the Wadden Sea and Delta populations recovered. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Frequently Asked Questions
What animals live in Belgium?
Belgium is home to gray wolves, European wildcats, red foxes, badgers, martens, raccoons, wild boars, red deer, roe deer, hares, red squirrels and hedgehogs. Its birds include the peregrine falcon, eagle owl, barn owl, crane, stork, mute swan, nightingale, white wagtail and Eurasian magpie, and monk parakeets live in parks in and around Brussels. The European adder lives on the heaths of the Kempen, and harbor seals rest on the North Sea coast.
What is the national animal of Belgium?
Belgium's national animal is the lion. A golden lion with red claws and tongue on a black shield is the main figure of the national coat of arms, set by royal decree in 1837, and it comes from the old arms of the Duchy of Brabant. The crowned lion known as the Leo Belgicus was used for the Low Countries from the 16th century. Lions never lived in Belgium, so the animal is purely a symbol of courage and unity.
Are there wolves in Belgium?
Yes, but only a few. Wolves disappeared from Belgium in the 19th century and came back on their own from Germany and the Netherlands. In 2018 a female named Naya settled in Limburg, the first wolf to settle in Belgium in more than a century, and a pack later formed there. Since then packs have formed in the High Fens in the east, and conservation groups estimated around 20 to 24 wolves in the whole country in recent years. They are strictly protected.
Are there venomous snakes in Belgium?
Yes, but only one: the European adder. It lives on heaths, moors and sunny forest edges, mostly in the Kempen in the north, with smaller populations in parts of Wallonia, and it has become rare as its habitat shrank. Adders are shy and usually slip away before people notice them. A bite is painful and needs a visit to a doctor, but it is rarely dangerous for healthy adults. The other snakes in Belgium are harmless.
Are there seals in Belgium?
Yes. Harbor seals and gray seals are seen more and more often along the Belgian coast. They like to rest on the beaches and sandbanks near Nieuwpoort, at the mouth of the Yser, and around Ostend, and smaller groups turn up in the port of Zeebrugge and the Zwin nature park. In 2022 monitoring recorded up to 40 seals in a single month, the highest numbers since counts began. Both species are protected, and anyone who finds a seal on the beach should keep their distance and keep dogs away.
Researched and written by Juan Pablo. Sources: IUCN Red List, scientific literature and regional field guides. Last updated: .