The 12 most dangerous animals in Germany are often underestimated

Created: 03/12/2022 04:53

By: Lisa Klein

In Germany there are not only poisonous animals that can be dangerous.

(Iconic image) © Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa

It's no secret that there are poisonous animals like the adder in Germany - but other animals that are underestimated because of their harmless appearance are much more dangerous.

In Germany there are not only a lot of poisonous animals that are dangerous for humans, but also other creatures 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.

explains which are the twelve most dangerous animals in Germany and why the creatures pose a danger 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 only noticed much too late due to its size: the tick.

Although the 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 bitten at least once by a tick infected with Borrelia.

According to the RKI, Lyme disease can “cause numerous forms of disease in different organs”.

In the very worst case, the trunk, arms and legs can become paralyzed, or the heart can become inflamed, which can manifest itself in arrhythmias.

In addition, ticks can trigger tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), which is caused by TBE viruses and occurs mainly in southern Germany.

The most common tick species in Germany is the “Gemeiner Holzbock”.

The alluvial forest tick is particularly dangerous for dogs.

It can transmit the so-called "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 Auwald tick.

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 Bill Gates has already described as the "most dangerous animal in the world", but is not yet that widespread in Germany and therefore did not make it to number one.

Nevertheless, the insect that is dangerous to 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, the Zika virus or the Chikungunya virus.

In general, insects should not be underestimated because of their size.

Wasps* and bees took third and fourth place among the most dangerous animals in Germany.

Although they are generally harmless and usually only bite when they feel threatened, they can quickly become dangerous, especially for people with allergies.

In an emergency, a sting can also be fatal.

Incidentally, hornets – the giant wasps – are less aggressive than their smaller relatives.

They flee when threatened rather than attack unless their nest is in close proximity.

The 12 most dangerous animals in Germany: Danger lurks in German forests

Fifth place goes to an animal that is not an insect, does not bite or sting, but can still be quite dangerous to humans.

The animal lives in the forest, according to the German Nature Conservation Union (NABU), the adult males can weigh up to 250 kilograms and their lower canine teeth sometimes protrude more than ten centimeters from the jaw - we're talking about wild boars.

Normally, wild boars are not aggressive, but the females – the “Bache” – can be particularly dangerous.

When people meet a mother animal including her young animals - the piglets - the most important thing is to keep calm.

Wild boars only attack when they feel attacked, threatened or cornered, as reported

.

It is best to continue the walk and ignore the wild boar as much as possible.

Piglets should be avoided at all costs, otherwise the mother animal will attack.

Wild boars can become dangerous if they feel threatened.

(Iconic image) © Lino Mirgeler/dpa/Iconic image

If the worst comes to the worst and the wild boar stands there snorting with its head down and signaling readiness to attack, hectic movements should be avoided.

It's not worth running away, boars are faster runners than humans and are also excellent swimmers.

advises: “Slowly walk backwards and talk to the animal calmly.

It is important that you build up enough distance to the wild boar - that way it feels safe".

The 12 most dangerous animals in Germany: Dangers under water

Animal dangers also lurk in the water: jellyfish.

The yellow hair jellyfish has made it to sixth place among the most dangerous animals in Germany.

The cnidarian is also known as the "fire jellyfish" by art residents and is found primarily in the North Sea and western Baltic Sea.

Contact with the yellow hair jellyfish's fine tentacles triggers the stinging cells, which penetrate the skin with the stinging tube and inject a venom into the victim.

People have allergic skin reactions, it becomes red, swollen and burns.

Human injuries are treated like burns and are very painful.

The 12 most dangerous animals in Germany: Poisonous animals in Germany

The poisonous animals in the country are of course among the most dangerous animals in Germany.

The most dangerous of the venomous animals is the nurse's thorn finger, a species of spider that grows up to 1.5 centimeters.

Their bite is particularly dangerous for humans because it can completely penetrate human skin - the poisonous claws of almost all other native spider species are too short for this.

Once bitten by the nurse's thorn finger, its venom causes swelling and pain that can lead to circulatory collapse and chills.

The adder is one of two poisonous snakes in Baden-Württemberg.

© Günter Hansbauer/dpa

The only two poisonous snakes in Germany occupy ninth and tenth place: the adder and the asp viper.

A case in the summer of 2021 shows how dangerous the adder is: a twelve-year-old German girl was bitten by a adder while on vacation in Austria and had to be taken to a hospital by helicopter.

explains what needs to be done in the event of a snake bite.

The 12 most dangerous animals in Germany: inconspicuous but not harmless

The oak processionary moth is widespread in Germany - entire areas are blocked off again and again because of the little animals, including in Heilbronn.

Touching the stinging hairs of the tooth spinners can cause severe itching, reddening of the skin, wheals and pus blisters.

It becomes dangerous when the hairs get into the mucous membranes.

Irritation of the mucous membranes in the mouth and nose from inhaling the hair can lead to bronchitis, painful coughing and asthma.

Accompanying general symptoms such as dizziness, fever, tiredness and conjunctivitis may occur.

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 per se is not a dangerous animal, but the dog-like predators still pose a danger to humans.

Diseases such as rabies can be transmitted through the faeces of the animals, which is why the maggot ranks twelfth among the most dangerous animals in Germany.