Lions, and tigers, and bears – oh my! Don’t worry, you’re not actually in danger of running into any of these animal while hiking in Germany. But there are some other guys you might want to be aware of before you head out into the woods here. From poisonous snakes and spiders to ticks and diseases, I’ll share what you should and shouldn’t be worried about when you put on your hiking boots in Germany.
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Table of Contents
Dangers of Hiking in Germany: Animals – Mammals
The most common big mammals you will run into in the forest are other humans. 😉 The next most likely would be foxes and deer. In the city, foxes are cheeky fellows who will try to steal your lunch out of your backpack. In the woods, they are curious but usually keep their distance. I rarely see deer, usually from the window of the train. To find out more about animal dangers while hiking in Germany that you may be worried about (bears, wolves, and wild boars), read on!
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Bears
Bears used to roam much of the European continent but most of them were killed off in the 19th and 20th centuries. C and I even did a bear hike in the Czech Republic which follows the hunt to kill the last bear there. There are some places in Europe where they are coming back (mostly in the Balkans and Scandinavia), but you don’t have to worry about encountering them here in Germany just yet. All of the animal dangers while hiking in Germany are smaller…much, much smaller.
Wolves
OK, wolves are still kind of large, but I have never seen any on my countless hikes in Germany. I have seen signs from cattle farmers complaining about wolves scaring or injuring their cattle. From the 1800s, wolves were no longer present in Germany for a century and a half. In 2000, the first wild-born pups came into the world, and now there are approximately 160 packs Germany-wide today. For more interesting wolves in Germany facts, check out the NABU website.
Wild Boar
Known as Wildschweine in German, you’re more likely to see these guys on the menu than you are while hiking. They are most active during dawn and dusk. If you pay attention, you may see where they have been digging around for food on either side of the trail. Though humans like to eat them, they are not interested in eating you. They will only cause you harm if they feel threatened or that you are threatening their young.
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Dangers of Hiking in Germany: Animals – Creepy Crawlies
Believe it or not, the most dangerous animals are going to be the small ones. And even then, probably the ones you were least expecting. Turns out, spiders and snakes will not pose much danger while hiking in Germany, but ticks and caterpillars will.
Ticks
Growing up in rural New Jersey, ticks were part of life. Our dog had them all the time, and we got them occasionally. Though they can come with diseases, I don’t find it something to get worked up about. When you remove them swiftly, there is little problem. You can remove them yourself if you know how to and feel comfortable. Should the head remain inside your skin, you need to see a doctor. You should not put oil or nail polish onto the tick before you remove it.
Ticks in Germany can carry one of two diseases which affect humans: Borreliose bacteria and Frühsommer-Meningoenzephalitis-(FSME-) virus. In English these are known as Lyme Disease and tick-born encephalitis respectively, the latter of which can be vaccinated against. Spring and fall are the high season for tick bites, but they are active all year long. Climate change is prolonging their season. It is possible to get these diseases anywhere in Germany, but the most common cases are in south and east Germany, like Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Saxony.
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If you’ve never seen a tick, it looks like a flat dark brown or black tear drop with eight spindly legs. The sizes vary from hardly visible to the top of a thumbtack. To avoid getting ticks, wear long pants tucked into your socks, and stay on trail (don’t go through high grass). Do a tick check at the end of each day – check places like behind the knees, in the armpits, and hair. Ticks like warm dark places. Wearing light colored clothes can make the creepy-crawlies easier to spot. Using insect repellent can keep them at bay.
Eichenprozessionspinner
Germans have the best long words, right? This one translates directly to “oak processionary moth.” These guys pose a danger to hiking in Germany in the springtime when the caterpillars hatch. They have lots of long hairs which contain poison. Not only should you not touch these guys, but also avoid their nests. The hairs they leave behind are still poisonous. Symptoms caused by these caterpillar hairs will vary by person. This may include rash, eye infections, respiratory difficulties, dizziness, and fever.
I have never seen these guys myself, but I have seen many signs warning about them. They are damaging to the trees (they eat them up!) and to humans. They are found all over Germany, but are spreading more rapidly and frequently due to climate change.
Signs you should know before you go hiking in Germany
Snakes
Of the 3000 snake species worldwide, you will only find 7 different kinds in Germany – two vipers and five colubrids. The vipers are the poisonous ones, though neither poses much danger to healthy adult humans. Their venom will cause, at most, an allergic reaction. You will find the Kreuzotter predominately in the north, while the Aspisviper prefers the warm climate of the southern Black Forest.
Consider yourself lucky to see a snake in Germany. They are all endangered here and really rare to see. I have seen less than a handful. Snakes are skittish animals, so if you see one give it some space and leave it in peace. If you get bitten, you should see a doctor.
The most common “snake” you’ll see is the Blindschleiche. It is neither a snake nor blind. Technically the Blindschleiche is a legless lizard!
(pictured: Blindschleiche)
Spiders
All spiders are poisonous, otherwise how would they kill their food? There are a few spiders in Germany which can bite through human skin and cause a reaction. Most of them will go away on their own in a few days. But they can cause worse symptoms if you have an allergic reaction, though not cause death. The most dangerous spiders are the Ammen-Dornfinger, whose bite is like a wasp sting, and the Kreuzspinne, which feels like a bee sting. All in all, not much of an animal danger while hiking in Germany.
Bees, Hornets, Wasps
These guys can be dangerous anywhere, especially if you are allergic. I seem to get stung yearly either on hikes or while out with friends. Don’t leave your sweet beverage (or any beverage!) unattended, because wasps love to drown themselves in it. If you get stung, make sure to get the stinger is out by using your finger nail or tweezers. It’s best to scratch it out rather than putting pressure around it.
Then put some disinfectant on it (like an onion, lemon, or vinegar) and some ice, if you’re able to get it, to reduce the swelling. Wasps especially can be hard to avoid when they’re being persistent and they’re great at ruining the mood!
Mosquitos
Mosquitos in Germany do not carry any lethal diseases…yet. In 2019 there were 5 cases of West Nile Virus, which jumped to 20 cases in 2020. The Tiger mosquito can also be found in Germany, though it has not yet become widespread. It can carry Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya.
Despite the low level of danger, I’ve turned a hike into a jog to escape clouds of them. C has ironclad will when it comes to not scratching them, whereas I cannot resist. To avoid getting your blood sucked, wear long, thick clothing and/or a natural insect repellent. Be aware that chemical insect repellent is harmful for the environment, your health, and the longevity of your hiking gear.
Dangers of Hiking in Germany: Animals – Diseases
I know diseases are not part of the animal kingdom, but these ones stem from coming in contact with animals, so they’re on the list!
Fuchsbandwurm
I didn’t even believe this was a thing when someone told me about it, but it’s true. Translated literally to fox-band-worm, the Fuchsbandwurm in English is called Echinococcus multilocularis. You can get this horrifying, barely quarter-of-an-inch long tapeworm by eating berries which have been defecated on by a fox which has the disease. This is too small of a probability to prevent me from picking delicious blackberries on a hike, but I do try to resist the low ones at fox-peeing level.
Getting the disease is life-threatening, though symptoms can develop up to ten years after ingestion. A real case of someone contracting it from eating berries has not been proved. Actually, scientists are not yet sure how exactly humans get it. But thoroughly washing anything from the wild (berries, mushrooms, salad, etc.) in hot water or cooking it before consuming will kill the parasite. You will not be able to kill the fox-band-worm by putting it in your freezer. Additionally, you should avoid touching and feeding wild animals, especially foxes.
The Fuchsbandwurm can also be found in Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France. In Germany, it is found in highest concentration in Bavaria, followed by Baden-Württemberg.
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Afrikanische Schweinepest
African Swine Fever! Don’t worry, it’s more dangerous for pigs than it is for humans. You will see signs for this on gates when you hike through the countryside. You can go through, but be sure to close them behind you so that no infected wild boars cross over. If you have a dog, you should keep it on a leash in these areas to avoid bringing infected material. This plague can decimate a farm of pigs, so communities are keen to keep it out.
The first cases of ASP in Germany were in Brandenburg in 2020 and it has now spread to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saxony, though we recently saw signs in Saarland in the West.
Dangers of hiking in Germany: animals
As far as I know, that’s a complete list of the animal dangers you could encounter while hiking in Germany. If you have more to share or questions to ask, write in the comments (I love comments!). Remember, to hike safely in Germany: plan, pack, and stay on trail! Be sure to know how to read the most common hiking signs in German. Coming soon: more dangers of hiking in Germany – plants and the environment!