France > France wildlife

France wildlife and animals

Wildlife in France - because of the large size of France, and the large percentage of the country that is still rural and / or forested, there are many intact natural habitats.

This section looks at some of the more common wildlife in France that you might see on a visit, or might hear and hope you don't see, and some wildlife you are very unlikely to come across.

Large mammals:

Wild boar / Roe deer / Red deer / Wolf / Fox / Brown bear / Badger / Chamois / Ibex

semi-wild horses: Camargue horses (see also Ardennes horses)

Small mammals:

Alpine Marmot / Hare / Ragondin / Red squirrel / Beech Marten / Genet / Lynx

Aquatic:

Dolphin

Reptiles:

Wall lizard / Grass snake

Insects:

Hornets / Praying Mantis

Hunting

Hunting in France - learn about the chasse / the hunt in France

Mythical Creatures

The one thing that France seems to lack is 'mythical wildlife' such as the Beast of Exmoor of England or Loch Ness Monster in Scotland - if such a creature exists somewhere in France please let us know! (The closest I found was the Beast of Gevaudan, a wolf-like creature that terrorised the Lozere department in the 18th century - but it seems that was very probably a man disguised as a wolf).