Animals in Ukraine
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos
Ukraine has no national animal set by law, but the nightingale is widely seen as its national bird. Its song fills Ukrainian folk songs, poems and proverbs, and the Ukrainian language is often called the language of the nightingale. It nests in gardens, parks and thickets along rivers, and in May many people hear it singing at night, even in cities. The white stork is another much loved bird symbol.
View details→Wildlife in Ukraine
Ukraine is the largest country lying entirely in Europe, covering about 600,000 square kilometers, and much of it is open, gently rolling land. Most people live in cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa and Lviv, while the countryside is a mix of huge farm fields, river valleys and forest. From north to south you pass the pine woods and marshes of Polesia, the forest steppe around Kyiv, the wide steppe of the south and the lagoons and sandy spits of the Black Sea coast, while in the west the Carpathian Mountains rise to 2,061 meters at Hoverla. Winters are cold and snowy and summers warm, and spring is the best time to see the steppe in flower and birds on the move along the rivers and coast.
The country's rich black soil made it one of the great farming regions of the world, and most of the old steppe was turned into fields, leaving wild grassland only in reserves. The Carpathian National Nature Park became the first national park in 1980, and the old beech forests of the Ukrainian Carpathians joined the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2007. Since the full scale Russian invasion in 2022, fighting, fires and landmines have damaged many forests and reserves in the east and south, and large areas are closed to visitors.
Most nature travel today is in the west, with hikes in the Carpathians around Yaremche and Vorokhta and walks in the forests and wetlands near Lviv. The wildlife follows these contrasts: bears, wolves and lynx in the mountains, moose, bison and cranes in the northern forests and marshes, birds of prey over the steppe, and dolphins and waterbirds along the coast.
Most Dangerous Animals in Ukraine
The greatest danger in Ukraine's wild places today is not an animal but the war. Since 2022, large areas of forest, steppe and coast in the north, east and south have been mined or hit by shelling, and many are closed to visitors. Stay on marked roads and paths, follow official warnings and closures, never pick up unknown objects and check local mine maps before going into forests. Among animals, brown bears in the Carpathians are the main risk, and they can be dangerous if surprised with cubs or near food; make noise on forest trails and keep food packed away. If you meet a bear, stay calm, do not run and back away slowly while facing it. On mountain pastures, large guard dogs protect the sheep, so walk around flocks rather than through them. Wild boar are common in forests and farmland, and a mother with young can charge, so keep dogs on a leash. Moose and bison are large and strong, so watch them from a distance. Wolves and lynx avoid people. The country's venomous snakes rarely bite. Ticks are common in grass and forest from spring to autumn, so check your skin after walks.
Top 10 Animals in Ukraine
Ukraine's best known animals are easiest to find in a few well known places. Brown bears live in the forests of the Ukrainian Carpathians, and a bear rehabilitation center near Lviv, at Domazhyr, shows rescued bears to visitors. Gray wolves and the Eurasian lynx live in the Carpathians and the forests of Polesia in the north, but both are shy and rarely seen. Red deer roar in September in the Carpathian forests. Moose live in the forests and marshes of Polesia, where the wetlands also hold cranes in spring. European bison were brought back to several forests in the west and north and live in small free herds. The European wildcat hunts at night in the Carpathian foothills. European adders bask in clearings and on the edges of bogs in the north. White tailed eagles nest along the big rivers and in the Danube delta and are easiest to see in winter. Storks nest on poles and roofs in villages across the country from April to August, and many villages still treat a stork nest as a sign of good luck.
Golden Jackal
Canis aureus
The golden jackal has expanded noticeably into Ukraine over recent decades, colonising the southern steppe regions, the Danube delta area, and Crimea. This northward spread is linked to milder winters and changes in land use. In Ukraine, jackals favour wetland edges, reed beds, and farmland. They are still considered relatively new arrivals in much of the country, and their range continues to grow. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Badger
Meles meles
The European badger lives across most of Ukraine in mixed and deciduous woodland, forest steppe and farmland, from the Carpathians in the west to the forests of the north and east. It lives in family groups in large setts and forages at night for earthworms, insects, fruit and small animals. It becomes patchier in the open steppe of the south, where woodland is scarce, and stays underground in the coldest weeks. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Brown Bear
Ursus arctos
In Ukraine brown bears live mainly in the Carpathian Mountains in the west, as part of the large Carpathian population shared with Romania, Slovakia and Poland, and a few live in the forests of Polesia in the north. They benefit from protected areas such as the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve. Logging and poaching are the main threats to them. IUCN status: Least Concern.
European Bison
Bison bonasus
European bison disappeared from Ukraine around 1917 and were brought back in 1965. Before the war, Ukraine held the fourth largest population in the world. By 2023 the country had roughly 400 animals in five populations, from the Tsuman forest in Volyn to Bukovyna near the Carpathians. The war has hit them hard: in Zalissia National Park, north of Kyiv, not a single adult bull survived the fighting, leaving a herd of females only, and other herds lost their keepers and winter feeding. Conservation groups are working to bring in new males. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Hare
Lepus europaeus
Ukraine is one of the European hare's strongholds, with ideal open land on the steppe and farm plains of the south and east and on the forest steppe of the center. The hare is common in cereal regions and has long been an important game animal. Intensive farming has reduced cover and food in some areas, and the war has also affected wildlife and hunting management in large parts of the country. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Gray Wolf
Canis lupus
The gray wolf is present throughout much of Ukraine, living in forests, river floodplains, and agricultural edges across the country. The Carpathian Mountains in the west support a notable population connected to wolf groups in Poland and Slovakia. Wolves are not legally protected in Ukraine and are subject to hunting. Despite this, the national population remains stable. The species is listed as Least Concern globally.
Pine Marten
Martes martes
In Ukraine, the pine marten lives in the Carpathian forests of the west and in the mixed woods and marshes of Polesia in the north, along the borders with Belarus and Poland. It needs large forests, so it is scarce in the open steppe of the south and east. It dens in hollow trees, hunts voles, squirrels and birds and eats berries in late summer. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Stone Marten
Martes foina
In Ukraine, the stone marten is common in the open countryside, villages and towns of the center and south, and on the rocky slopes of Crimea, where it nests in barns, attics and old buildings. It hunts rats, mice and birds at night, raids henhouses when it can and eats berries and fruit in late summer, and it is rarely seen despite being widespread. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Lynx
Lynx lynx
In Ukraine the Eurasian lynx lives mainly in the Carpathian forests of the west, one of the most important refuges for large carnivores in Central Europe, and in the forests and marshes of Polesia in the north, including the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. It relies on dense forest and healthy numbers of roe deer and red deer. Poaching and logging are the main concerns. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Deer
Cervus elaphus
In Ukraine, red deer are found across the Carpathian mountain forests of the west and in forested areas of the north and east. The Carpathian Biosphere Reserve provides key habitat for the species. Populations suffered declines due to unregulated hunting in the past but have recovered in protected areas. Red deer feed on grasses, bark and leaves, and stags are recognized by their large branching antlers. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
The red fox is one of Ukraine's most familiar wild mammals, found in the steppe, farmland, river valleys, Carpathian forests and the Polesia wetlands, and it often lives near villages and towns. Voles and mice from the vast fields are its main food. For years it was the main carrier of rabies in the country, and oral vaccine baits have been dropped to control the disease. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Squirrel
Sciurus vulgaris
The red squirrel is found across Ukraine in mixed and coniferous forests, particularly in the Carpathian Mountains and the forested regions of Polesia in the north. It thrives among spruce and pine trees, feeding on seeds, nuts, and fungi. Unlike in western Europe, it faces little pressure from gray squirrels here, and populations remain healthy throughout the country. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Roe Deer
Capreolus capreolus
Roe deer are widespread across Ukraine, living in the mixed and broadleaf forests of the Carpathian region, the forest steppe zone, and river floodplains throughout the country. They are among the most commonly encountered wild deer in Ukraine. Most active at dawn and dusk, they feed selectively on buds, herbs, and shoots. The white rump patch flares as a warning when the animal is startled or fleeing a predator. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
Wild boars are widespread across Ukraine, especially in the forests and marshes of Polesia in the north, the Carpathian foothills in the west and the floodplain forests of the big rivers. They also thrive in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, where people left decades ago. They have long been a popular game animal, but African swine fever and the war have made monitoring difficult. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Moose
Alces alces
In Ukraine, moose live mainly in Polesia, the vast belt of forests, bogs and river floodplains across the north of the country, and in the forests of the northeast. One of their best known refuges is the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, where moose became more common after people left in 1986. They favor quiet riverbanks and marshy woodland edges rich in willows. Poaching and war have put pressure on local numbers. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Raccoons are an introduced species in Ukraine. They have spread into the west of the country from populations in central Europe, and a first record from the Transcarpathian region was published recently. They favor riverside forests and rural areas, where they can prey on birds and amphibians. Ukrainian specialists follow their spread closely and treat the raccoon as an invasive species. IUCN status: Least Concern.
European Wildcat
Felis silvestris
In Ukraine the European wildcat lives mainly in the Carpathian region in the west, including Transcarpathia, where forested mountain slopes and river valleys provide cover and prey. It is a solitary, nocturnal cat, bulkier than a house cat, with a striped coat and a clearly blunt black tail tip. Habitat loss, logging and crossbreeding with feral cats are ongoing concerns for the species here. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Otter
Lutra lutra
In Ukraine the otter lives along rivers and wetlands across much of the country, with strongholds in the Danube Delta, the vast marshes of Polesia in the north and the mountain rivers of the Carpathians. It is listed in the national Red Book. Pollution, drained wetlands and poaching are threats. It shares Ukraine's wetlands with white tailed eagles and storks, and its forests with brown bears, wolves and moose. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
European Adder
Vipera berus
The European adder lives across much of northern and western Ukraine, in the forests and bogs of Polesia and in the Carpathian Mountains, in forest edges, wetland margins and mountain meadows. It is the country's most widespread venomous snake in these cooler regions. Drainage of wetlands and agricultural expansion put pressure on local populations. It spends the winter hibernating underground. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Griffon Vulture
Gyps fulvus
The griffon vulture once nested in Ukraine, in the Dniester River valley, but those colonies were lost long ago and today it is a rare bird here. Most records are wandering birds, some of them ringed in Israel, Bulgaria, Serbia, or Croatia, seen in Crimea, near Kamianets Podilskyi, or even in the Kyiv region. They soar over open country and river valleys looking for carcasses. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eagle Owl
Bubo bubo
In Ukraine, the eagle owl is found in forested river valleys, rocky outcrops in the Carpathian mountains, and the steppe zones of the south and east. Populations have faced pressure from habitat loss and human disturbance, but the species still breeds in suitable areas across the country. The Carpathian region in western Ukraine is considered one of its strongholds. It nests on sheltered cliff ledges and forested escarpments. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Saker Falcon
Falco cherrug
Ukraine's expansive steppe zones, especially in the south and east of the country, have historically supported breeding saker falcons. The species nests in trees or on human made structures across open grasslands and hunts ground squirrels in particular. Agricultural intensification and power line electrocution are key threats. Ongoing conflict has severely disrupted wildlife monitoring and conservation work across the country. The saker falcon is listed as Endangered by the IUCN.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
The barn owl is found across the lowlands and agricultural plains of Ukraine, particularly in the western regions, Podolia, and the steppe zones of the south and east. It nests in old farm buildings, church towers, and hollow trees, and hunts mice and voles at night in open fields. Cold winters in the north and east can cause significant mortality and limit population density. Conservation programs with nest boxes are in use in several regions, and Ukraine's extensive traditional farmland provides some of the most important barn owl habitat in Eastern Europe.
White tailed Eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla
Ukraine has a significant breeding population of white tailed eagles, especially in the Danube Biosphere Reserve and the Polesia region in the north, where large wetlands and rivers provide ideal habitat. The species benefits from protected areas along the Dnieper and the Danube. The war has disrupted monitoring in parts of the country, making it hard to know current trends. It nests in tall trees. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Crane
Grus grus
Ukraine hosts common cranes both as breeding birds in the north and as migrants passing through in large numbers each autumn and spring. Nesting takes place in the forests and wetlands of Polesia, near the border with Belarus. During migration, flocks move across the broad plains and river valleys of the country. The species is considered to be of Least Concern and is a regular presence across Ukraine.
Stork
Ciconia ciconia
Ukraine holds one of the largest white stork breeding populations in Europe, with about 30,000 pairs counted in the 2004/05 census. The river floodplains, meadows, and farmland of the west and northwest are ideal for nesting and feeding. Storks build their large stick nests on rooftops, poles, and trees in rural villages, where they are welcomed as a sign of good fortune. IUCN status: Least Concern.
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
The white wagtail is a common breeding bird throughout Ukraine, from the forests and marshes of Polesia in the north to the steppe rivers and the Black Sea coast in the south. It nests in walls, bridges, woodpiles and village buildings and hunts insects along riverbanks, ponds and pastures. It arrives in March and leaves in autumn for the Mediterranean and Africa, with a few wintering in the south. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
In Ukraine, the peregrine falcon breeds on river cliffs and rocky outcrops, particularly in the Carpathian Mountains in the west and along the Dnister and Dnipro river canyons. The species disappeared from much of the country during the DDT era but has been slowly recovering. Conservation programmes and nest monitoring by local ornithological groups have helped support the population as it rebuilds across suitable breeding habitat. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
The mute swan is a familiar sight across Ukraine, where it breeds on the shallow lakes, river deltas, and coastal wetlands of the Black Sea and Azov Sea regions. Pairs build large nests among reeds and defend them fiercely. Outside the breeding season, flocks gather on sheltered bays and estuaries. Its white plumage and orange bill make it one of the country's most recognizable waterbirds. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchos
The nightingale is a familiar and beloved bird in Ukraine, breeding mainly in the south and west, in river valleys, forest edges and the dense shrubby thickets of the steppe zone. In the north and east, its close relative the thrush nightingale becomes more common. Ukrainian poets and folk songs have celebrated the nightingale's voice for centuries, and males sing powerfully through May and June in riverside woods. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
In Ukraine, the golden eagle is a rare breeding bird of the Carpathians in the west and the great bogs and forests of Polesia in the north, with only a few dozen pairs. It nests in tall trees and on cliffs and hunts hares, grouse and foxes over open slopes and bogs. More birds arrive in winter. The war has made monitoring difficult. Each pair needs large, quiet areas far from people to breed. Young birds wander widely before they settle. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Eurasian Magpie
Pica pica
In Ukraine, the Eurasian magpie is found from the Carpathian foothills in the west to the open steppes in the east, though it prefers areas with scattered trees and shrubs rather than fully open plains. It is common in villages, orchards, and along river corridors. Resourceful and bold, it scavenges widely and caches food for leaner seasons. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
Ukraine's Black Sea waters are home to the Black Sea bottlenose dolphin, an Endangered subspecies found only in this sea, which lives close to the coast off Odesa and in the Kerch Strait toward the Sea of Azov. Since 2022 researchers have reported many dead dolphins on Black Sea beaches and link them to the war, including underwater noise and explosions. IUCN status: Least Concern (Black Sea subspecies: Endangered).
Common Dolphin
Delphinus delphis
Ukraine's Black Sea waters are home to the Black Sea common dolphin, a subspecies found only in this sea, which is seen off Odesa and along the coast in summer. Since 2022 researchers have reported large numbers of dead dolphins on Black Sea beaches, which they link to the war, including underwater noise and explosions. Before that, hunting until 1966 and bycatch had been the main threats. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Frequently Asked Questions
What animals live in Ukraine?
Ukraine is home to brown bears, gray wolves, Eurasian lynx, moose, European bison, red deer, roe deer, wild boar, golden jackals and the European wildcat. Its birds include white tailed eagles, golden eagles, saker falcons, eagle owls, cranes, storks and nightingales, and bottlenose and common dolphins live in the Black Sea.
Are there bears in Ukraine?
Yes. Brown bears live in the forests of the Ukrainian Carpathians in the west of the country. They avoid people, but hikers should make noise and keep food packed away. Rescued bears can be seen at a rehabilitation center at Domazhyr, near Lviv.
Are there wolves in Ukraine?
Yes. Gray wolves live in many parts of Ukraine, especially in the Carpathians and the forests and marshes of Polesia in the north. They avoid people and are rarely seen, but they sometimes take livestock in rural areas.
Is it safe to visit nature in Ukraine?
Only with great care. Since 2022, many forests and reserves in the north, east and south have been mined or damaged and are closed to visitors. Most nature trips now take place in the western Carpathians. Always follow official warnings, stay on marked paths and check local mine maps before going out.
What is the national animal of Ukraine?
Ukraine has no national animal set by law, but the nightingale is widely seen as its national bird, famous in folk songs and poems. The white stork is another beloved symbol, and a stork nest on a house is seen as a sign of good luck.
Researched and written by Juan Pablo. Sources: IUCN Red List, scientific literature and regional field guides. Last updated: .