It is no secret that there are poisonous animals such as the adder in Germany - but much more dangerous are completely different animals, which are underestimated due to their harmless appearance.
In Germany there are not only lots of poisonous animals that are dangerous to humans, but also other living things that are anything but harmless because of their size, aggressiveness, strength or because of communicable diseases.
In the worst case, it can even kill people.
* echo24.de
explains which are the twelve most dangerous animals in Germany and why these creatures pose a threat to humans.
The 12 most dangerous animals in Germany: This animal is the most dangerous
Probably the most dangerous animal in Germany is widespread throughout the Federal Republic and is often noticed much too late due to its size: the tick. Although arachnids are not poisonous, they can transmit a variety of infectious diseases to humans, such as Lyme disease, a bacterial infection primarily caused by Borrelia burgdorferi.
According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), around three percent of three to six year olds and seven percent of 14 to 17 year olds in Germany are stung at least once by a tick infected with Borrelia. According to the RKI, borreliosis can "cause numerous forms of disease in various organs". In the very worst case, it can lead to paralysis of the trunk, arms and legs, or inflammation of the heart, which can manifest itself in arrhythmias. In addition, ticks can cause early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE), which is caused by TBE viruses and mainly occurs in southern Germany. Experts warn: 2021 should be an extreme TBE year *.
The most common type of tick in Germany is the common wood tick.
The alluvial forest tick is particularly dangerous for dogs.
It can transmit what is known as "dog malaria". If the disease is not treated quickly, it is usually fatal for the four-legged friends.
TBE can also be transmitted by the alluvial forest tick.
* echo24.de
provides information on how best to protect yourself from tick bites and TBE *.
The 12 most dangerous animals in Germany: Danger from the air
In second place is an animal that was already described by Bill Gates as the “most dangerous animal in the world”, but is not yet as widespread in Germany and therefore did not make it to first place. Nevertheless, the insect that is dangerous for humans is also spreading in Germany: the tiger mosquito. The State Health Office (LGA) in Baden-Württemberg warns of dangerous infectious diseases that can be transmitted by the tiger mosquito *, such as dengue fever, Zika virus or Chikungunya virus.
In general, insects should not be underestimated because of their size.
Third and fourth place among the most dangerous animals in Germany are wasps * and bees.
Although they are usually harmless and usually only sting when they feel threatened, they can become dangerous pretty quickly, especially for allergy sufferers.
In an emergency, a sting can also be fatal.
By the way, hornets - the giant wasps - are less aggressive than their little relatives.
In the event of danger, they tend to flee rather than attack, as long as their nest is not in the immediate vicinity.
The 12 most dangerous animals in Germany: Danger lurks in German forests
Fifth place is occupied by an animal that is not an insect, does not bite or sting, but can still be quite dangerous for humans. The animal lives in the forest, the adult males can weigh up to 250 kilograms according to the Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU) and their lower canines sometimes protrude more than ten centimeters from the jaw - we're talking about wild boars.
Wild boars are normally not belligerent, but the females in particular - the "brooks" - can be dangerous.
When people come across a mother animal including her young - the freshlings -, above all, calm should be kept.
Wild boars
only attack when they feel attacked, threatened or cornered, as
reported by
natur-begegnung.de
.
It is best to continue the walk and ignore the wild boar as much as possible.
Freshlings should definitely be avoided, as the mother animal will otherwise attack.
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Wild boars can become dangerous when they feel threatened.
(Symbol image)
© Lino Mirgeler / dpa / symbol image
If it comes to extremes and the wild boar stands there with bowed head snorting and signals readiness to attack, hectic movements should be avoided.
It's not worth running away, wild boars are faster runners than humans and also excellent swimmers.
natur-begegnung.de
advises: “
Walk
slowly backwards and speak calmly to the animal.
It is important that you build enough distance to the wild boar - this is how it feels safe ”.
The 12 most dangerous animals in Germany: Dangers under water
Animal dangers lurk in the water too: jellyfish.
The yellow hair jellyfish made it to the sixth place of the most dangerous animals in Germany.
The cnidarians are also called "fire jellyfish" by residents of the arts and are found mainly in the North Sea and the western Baltic Sea.
Contact with the fine tentacles of the yellow hair jellyfish triggers the nettle cells, which penetrate the skin with the nettle tube and inject a poison into the victim.
In humans, allergic reactions of the skin occur, it is reddened, swollen and stinging.
The injuries in humans are treated like burns and are very painful.
The 12 most dangerous animals in Germany: Poisonous animals in Germany
Of course, the most dangerous animals in Germany also include the poisonous animals in the country.
The most dangerous of the poisonous animals is the wet nurse's thorn finger, a species of spider that can grow up to 1.5 centimeters.
Their bite is particularly dangerous for humans because it can completely penetrate human skin - the poisonous claws are too short for almost all other native spider species.
Once you've been bitten by the wet nurse's thorn finger *, its poison leads to swelling and pain, which can lead to circulatory failure and chills.
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The adder is one of two venomous snakes in Baden-Württemberg.
© Günter Hansbauer / dpa
Ninth and tenth place are occupied by the only two venomous snakes in Germany: the adder and the aspic viper.
A recent case shows how dangerous the adder is: A twelve-year-old German girl was bitten by an adder while on vacation in Austria * and had to be taken to a hospital by helicopter.
* echo24.de
explains what to do in the event of a snakebite *.
The 12 most dangerous animals in Germany: inconspicuous but not harmless
The oak processionary moths are widespread in Germany - time and again, entire areas are cordoned off due to the animals, as was the case recently in Heilbronn *. Touching the stinging hairs of the tooth spinner can cause severe itching, reddening of the skin, wheals and pus vesicles. It becomes dangerous when the hairs get into the mucous membranes. Irritation of the lining of the mouth and nose from inhalation of the hair can lead to bronchitis, painful coughing and asthma. This may be accompanied by general symptoms such as dizziness, fever, tiredness and conjunctivitis. In rare extreme cases, allergic shock reactions are also possible.
Last but not least, there is another animal in Germany that is not only dangerous for cars: the marten is not a dangerous animal per se, but the canine predators pose a threat to humans. Diseases such as rabies can be transmitted through the faeces of the animals, which is why the Mader ranks twelfth among the most dangerous animals in Germany.
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