Animals in Latvia
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
The white wagtail is Latvia’s national bird and one of its most recognizable symbols. It is often seen near rivers, gardens and open fields, moving with its characteristic tail motion. Its cheerful presence marks the arrival of spring and is celebrated in Latvian songs and cultural traditions.
View details→Wildlife in Latvia
Latvia is one of the greenest countries in the Baltic region, with forests, rivers and wetlands that provide shelter for lynxes, moose, wolves and brown bears. Birds such as cranes, storks and eagles are common, especially near lakes and marshes. Protected areas and national parks help preserve these habitats for future generations.
Most Dangerous Animals in Latvia
Latvia’s wildlife includes animals that require caution, such as brown bears, moose, wild boars and wolves. European bison and adders are also present in some areas. Although encounters are rare, visitors are advised to keep distance and respect local guidelines when exploring wild regions.
Top 10 Animals in Latvia
Among Latvia’s most emblematic animals are the brown bear, moose, Eurasian lynx, gray wolf, red deer and peregrine falcon. These species represent the country’s wild and diverse nature. National parks such as Gauja and Slitere are popular destinations for those who want to see them in their natural habitat.
Badger
Meles meles
The Eurasian badger is found across Latvia in mixed and deciduous forest, farmland and forest edges throughout the country. It prefers areas with light, well-drained soils suitable for digging extensive setts, and lives in family groups that use the same burrow systems across generations. In Latvia badgers are less active during the coldest winter months but do not hibernate fully. They feed on earthworms, insects, berries, roots and small animals, and populations are stable.
Brown Bear
Ursus arctos
Latvia has a small number of brown bears, mostly in the forests of the northeast and east, near the borders with Estonia and Russia. Many are young bears that cross from Estonia, where the population is larger, and the number of bears in Latvia has slowly grown in recent decades. Bears are protected and rarely seen, and encounters with people are very uncommon. IUCN status: Least Concern.
European Bison
Bison bonasus
European bison returned to Latvia after being absent for hundreds of years. The best known herd lives in Pape Nature Park, in the far southwest near the Lithuanian border, where bison released into a large enclosure in the 2000s broke out and have roamed free ever since, sharing coastal meadows and wetlands with wild horses and Heck cattle. Guided tours with local rangers offer the best chance to see them. They feed on grasses, leaves and bark. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Hare
Lepus europaeus
In Latvia, the European hare lives on farmland, meadows and forest edges, and it is most common where fields and pastures dominate the landscape. Native hares that turn white in winter are more common in the forests, and the two species sometimes interbreed. Large farms, the abandonment of old pastures and snowy winters all shape hare numbers in this Baltic country, where it is a familiar game animal. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Hedgehog
Erinaceus europaeus
In Latvia, the European hedgehog lives in gardens, forest edges and hedgerows, including the lowland farmland of the interior. The Baltic countries lie in a wide zone where it meets its eastern relative, the northern white breasted hedgehog, and the two often interbreed. It is active from spring to autumn before hibernating through the Baltic winter. Road traffic and the loss of hedgerows and rough grassland are its main threats. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Gray Wolf
Canis lupus
Latvia holds one of the more robust wolf populations in the Baltic region. Wolves thrive in the country's extensive forests and wetlands, feeding mainly on deer and wild boar. The population has grown over recent decades and Latvia permits regulated hunting to manage numbers. Wolves sometimes come into conflict with farmers and are legally classified as a game species. Globally, the gray wolf is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Marten
Martes martes / Martes foina
Latvia's forests cover about half of the country, and the pine marten lives in them from end to end. It favors older spruce and mixed woods, where it dens in tree hollows and squirrel nests and hunts voles, squirrels and birds, and it is still a game species here. The stone marten lives in Latvia too, but it is less common and stays closer to villages, farms and town edges. Both eat berries in autumn. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Lynx
Lynx lynx
Latvia has one of the healthiest Eurasian lynx populations in the Baltic region, part of the large Baltic population shared with Estonia and Russia. Lynx live in forests across much of the country, especially in the north and east. Roe deer and hares are its main prey, and it shares these woods with wolves, moose and brown bears. Latvia monitors the population and allows limited hunting with yearly quotas. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Deer
Cervus elaphus
The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is one of the largest deer species in Europe and a well established resident of Latvia's mixed forests and river valleys. Populations here have grown steadily in recent decades, supported by regulated hunting and forest management. Stags are recognized by their broad antlers, and their bellowing calls echo through Latvian woodlands each autumn during the rut. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
Latvia's mix of dense forests, wetlands, and farmland makes it excellent habitat for the red fox. It is one of the most abundant carnivores in the country and is managed as a game species, with annual hunting quotas set to keep populations in check. It is also monitored for rabies, as Latvia has worked to control the disease through oral vaccination programs. Its IUCN status is Least Concern.
Red Squirrel
Sciurus vulgaris
Latvia's extensive conifer and mixed forests make it excellent habitat for the red squirrel. The species is common throughout the country, thriving in the boreal woodlands that cover much of the landscape. It feeds heavily on spruce and pine seeds and caches food ahead of winter. Latvia holds a healthy population, and the red squirrel is a familiar presence in both rural forests and larger urban parks. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Roe Deer
Capreolus capreolus
Latvia's extensive forests and mosaic of farmland make it excellent habitat for the roe deer. The species is found across the whole country and is one of the most commonly seen large mammals in Latvian woodlands. It favors the edges where trees meet open fields, feeding on the rich plant growth that flourishes in those transition zones. Populations are monitored through national hunting records, and the deer remains abundant and widely distributed throughout Latvia. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
Wild boars are common in Latvia's forests, which cover about half of the country and give them plenty of acorns and cover. They are a popular game animal and prey for wolves and lynx. African swine fever reached Latvia in 2014 and killed many boars, and hunting was increased sharply to slow the virus. Numbers are still closely monitored to protect pig farms. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Moose
Alces alces
Latvia is one of the most moose-rich countries in Europe for its size, with moose spread across its large mixed and boreal forests, which cover more than half the country. They favor the wetlands and river valleys of Vidzeme and Latgale, feeding on willows and aquatic plants. Hunting is carefully regulated, and the moose remains both an ecological cornerstone and a symbol of Latvian wild nature. IUCN status: Least Concern.
European Adder
Vipera berus
The European adder is Latvia's only venomous snake and is found throughout the country in forests, raised bogs, clearcuts and meadows. It is most common where open, sunny patches meet dense vegetation, which gives it places to bask and to hide. It eats voles, mice and frogs, and bites, while painful, are rarely serious with medical care. It hibernates from autumn until early spring. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eagle Owl
Bubo bubo
The Eurasian eagle owl is a rare but established breeder in Latvia, favoring rocky outcrops, quarries, and the edges of mature forest. Its vivid orange eyes and prominent ear tufts make it unmistakable. Population numbers here are small, and the species benefits from legal protection. It hunts at night across open farmland and woodland, taking hares, rodents, and birds. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
Saker Falcon
Falco cherrug
Latvia lies at the northern boundary of the saker falcon's European distribution, where the species is an occasional migrant rather than a breeding bird. The open mosaic of farmland and wetlands across Latvia may provide brief resting habitat during seasonal movements. Across Eastern Europe, saker populations have declined considerably due to illegal trapping and the degradation of steppe habitats. The IUCN lists the species as Endangered.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
The barn owl reaches the northern limit of its range in Latvia, where it is considered a rare and vulnerable resident. It is found mainly in the western lowlands and the Courland region, nesting in old farm buildings and church towers in open agricultural areas. Latvia's cold winters cause significant mortality and limit population recovery. Conservation programs including nest box installation have been implemented to support the small breeding population. It is far less common than other owl species in Latvia and is monitored closely by local conservation organizations.
White tailed Eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla
Latvia is one of the strongholds of the white tailed eagle in the Baltic. Its vast forests, river floodplains, lakes such as Lubāns and the coastal lagoons along the Gulf of Riga provide ideal nesting and feeding habitat. Latvia holds a healthy breeding population, although disturbance near nests during the breeding season remains a concern. Many birds stay all winter. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Crane
Grus grus
Latvia is an important breeding and staging country for common cranes. The country's extensive bogs, fens and forest wetlands provide ideal nesting habitat, and cranes breed widely across the Latvian countryside. In autumn, large flocks gather in agricultural fields before departing south. Latvia's protected wetland areas, including sites within the Natura 2000 network, play a meaningful role in supporting both nesting pairs and birds on passage. The species is listed as Least Concern.
Stork
Ciconia ciconia
Latvia holds one of the densest white stork populations in the Baltic region, with the bird deeply woven into local rural culture. Storks nest widely across the country, favoring lowland meadows, river floodplains, and farmland that is rich in the amphibians and insects they depend on. Many Latvians consider it good luck to have a stork nest on their property. The species arrives each spring from Africa south of the Sahara and departs again in late summer.
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
The white wagtail is Latvia's national bird, chosen in 1960 and celebrated in folk songs as a symbol of hard work. It breeds throughout the country, arriving in early April and nesting near rivers like the Daugava and Gauja, around lakes, in farmyards and in towns. It runs across open ground after insects, constantly bobbing its tail, and leaves in autumn for the Mediterranean and Africa. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
In Latvia, the peregrine falcon was nearly lost as a breeding species during the twentieth century due to the effects of DDT and habitat disturbance. Conservation efforts and the banning of harmful pesticides allowed a gradual recovery. Today, small numbers nest in forested areas and near river valleys. During migration, larger numbers pass through Latvia, hunting shorebirds and waterfowl along the Baltic coast. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
The mute swan breeds widely across Latvia, making use of the country's rich network of lakes, rivers, and coastal bays along the Baltic Sea. Pairs nest among reeds and aquatic vegetation, and flocks gather on sheltered stretches of water during autumn and winter. Latvia's wetlands are well suited to this species, and the population here is stable and healthy. The IUCN lists the mute swan as Least Concern.
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
The golden eagle is a rare breeding bird in Latvia, with only a few pairs in large forests and raised bogs, mainly in the east and north of the country. Like other Baltic golden eagles, they nest in large old pines and hunt over open bogs and clearings, taking grouse, hares and waterbirds. Nest sites are protected and kept secret. Each pair needs large, quiet areas far from people to breed. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Magpie
Pica pica
The Eurasian magpie is a common resident across Latvia, thriving in the mix of farmland, river valleys, and woodland edges that cover much of the country. It stays through the winter, often moving closer to human settlements in search of food during the coldest months. Noisy and sociable, it is easy to spot in both rural and urban areas. It is a familiar sight in Riga's parks. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Researched and written by Juan Pablo. Sources: IUCN Red List, scientific literature and regional field guides. Last updated: .