European Animals Switzerland and Wales

Wildlife of Switzerland

Switzerland is a landlocked European country located at the crossroads of Central and Southern Europe. It has a mountainous landscape with both the Alps and Jura Mountains, The country is bordered by France, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Italy.

Native Animals

Chamois are Swiss goat-antelopes. They are good rock climbers and can be found high up in the Alps.

Mountain hares are found in both mountainous and polar regions.

Red deer are the largest-hooved wild animals in Switzerland. They make their homes in the Alps and in national parks.

Alpine marmots are members of the squirrel family. They make their home in the higher elevations of the Alps.

Brown bears can be found near the Austrian and Italian borders.

Apennine wolves are a subspecies of gray wolves that are native to the Italian Peninsula but can also be found in both France and Switzerland.

European wildcats are a small species of wildcats that are native to Europe, Scotland, Turkey, and the Caucasus.

Alpine ibexes are a species of wild goats native to the European Alps.

European otters make their home along rivers.

Wild boars are also referred to as Eurasian wild pigs they are the most common and widespread animals in Europe.

European badgers are a species of mustelids native to all of Europe.

Birds

Barn owls are among the most widespread animals on Earth.

Long-eared owls are a medium-sized species of owls that are native to much of the Northern Hemisphere.

Greater spotted eagles are a large species of birds of prey found in the mountainous parts of Europe.

Bearded vultures are a large species of birds of prey native to several areas of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Common cranes are a medium-sized species of cranes native to Eurasia.

Wildlife of Wales

Wales is a country in Europe in the United Kingdom in the northwestern part of the continent. The country is largely mountainous with a changeable, marine climate. It is bordered by England.

National Official Animal

Red Dragon

Wales has chosen the red dragon, a mythical animal to be their official animal. The red dragon is featured on the country’s flag.

National Official Bird

Red Kite

Animals in Wales include five native deer species among them red deer, fallow deer, and roe deer.

Other animals include foxes, badgers, and hedgehogs.

Also making their home in Wales are hares, stoats, weasels, red squirrels, and pine martens.

The European polecat can be found in both urban and country environments.

Birds

Red-billed choughs are also referred to as Cornish choughs. These are a species of crows native to Europe, Central Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. They have gloss black plumage, red legs, and a long curved red bull.

Montagu’s harriers are a species of migratory birds of prey found in Europe, Africa, and Asia. They have several nesting sites in Wales and inhabit the lowlands, mostly plains, broad river valleys, and grasslands.

Red grouses are also referred to as moorfowl. These are medium-sized species of birds found in Great Britain and Ireland. They make their homes in the Brecon Beacons, the Cambrian Mountains, and Snowdonia.

Marine Animals

Eurasian beavers are a species of mammals found throughout Eurasia.

Harbor porpoises are a species of porpoises that are found in the shallow, coastal waters of the North Atlantic Ocean as well as the Black Sea.

Common dolphins are found in the coastal waters of the world and all around the British Isles. The biggest pod of dolphins in the UK makes their home in Cardigan Bay.

In Skomer, off the coast of Pembrokeshire, you can enjoy seeing seabirds for several months per year. Colorful and adorable puffins can be seen from May to July.

Common toads make their home in Wales emerging at night to feed on invertebrates, They gather in large numbers in breeding ponds during mating season.