Bears live in forests and mountains. Croatia has both, so it comes as no surprise that bears are indigenous to the Northern Balkans. It’s unlikely to see Ursidae when visiting the most popular tourist attractions but the chances of an unexpected encounter increase dramatically if you go hiking to Gorski Kotar or Velebit. When seeing people, bruins will simply try to bypass them. However, if you bump into a mother bear with cubs, you should be extremely careful since she’s going to be extremely protective. From 2000 to 2015, there were only three cases of bear attacks and all of them wound up to be non-fatal. Still, it’s a good idea to take some pepper spray when going hiking, just in case.

Another representative of dangerous animals in Croatia is the lynx. The Croatian and Slovenian lynx is the only big cat species on the Balkans. Their population is so small that meeting one of them while hiking would be an extraordinary event. Nevertheless, it might happen, so you need to keep your eyes peeled. Lynxes are endangered species and are protected by the state, so please do not try to harm or injure them.

Dense forests and mountainous regions provide an ideal refuge for wolves. In fact, Croatia is home to the largest population in the Balkans. Wolves don’t seek encounters with people, so they will try to avoid them as much as possible. Nevertheless, the mating season makes canine carnivores more aggressive and prone to attacks.

Wild boars are not so rare in the Croatian forests. An encounter with a huge 300-kilogram wild pig and its 30-centimeter tusks will definitely send shivers down your spine. Female wild boars are almost half the size of males but they pose the same threat, especially if they walk their cubs. If you come across these dangerous animals in Croatia, do not try to come closer or scare them. Your best tactic is a discreet retreat.

Even paradise has snakes, so why Croatia would be deprived of them? The country is home to 15 serpent specie, three of which are venomous – Horned viper, Karst Meadow Viper, and Common European adder. The last two bites painfully but their toxin is too weak to harm a healthy person. However, the bite of the Horned Viper can be fatal – over the past 25 years, it has killed 4 people. Vipers are found throughout the country, but they are most common in coastal areas. If you weren’t able to avoid the bite, you need to urgently call 112, try to slow down your breathing, and immobilize the affected limb.

Another animal with a fatal bite is the Black Widow. In fact, their bite is completely painless, and only a couple of hours later it brings unbearable pain, spasm, and even paralysis. A victim of the Black Widow can’t be called doomed because only 5% of those bitten eventually die. That being said, children, the elderly, and people with weakened health are at risk. The Black Widow, whose distinctive feature is a black body with red spots, lives throughout Croatia but its favorite habitats are Primorje, Dalmatia, and the Istria regions.

Scorpions are found primarily in coastal areas. If you delve deeper into the continent, the chances of meeting these dangerous arthropods are very slim. Even if you stumble upon one, you shouldn’t worry – Croatian scorpions, although poisonous, do not pose a threat to life and health. Their venom is too weak to kill a human but it’s able to cause pain, burning, redness, swelling, and itching.

Sea urchins are ubiquitous in the Adriatic Sea. They live only in an unpolluted environment, so if you’re surrounded by these spiked fellas, then you are lucky to swim in clear water. However, you won’t feel lucky if you step on one of them. By nature, sea urchins are non-aggressive and slow but they get in the way in shallow waters. There are pretty good chances that your foot meets an urchin’s spiny back when walking on the seabed. The nastiest part is that their needles break easily and get stuck under the skin. They are not poisonous but the pain and possible inflammation are no joking matter.

The last registered shark attack happened in 2008 while the last fatality occurred about 50 years ago. Unlike the Mediterranean Sea, the Adriatic’s waters are pretty safe for swimmers, surfers, and divers. The only dangerous sharks that you can find off the coast of Croatia are Mako and Great White Shark.

Just like in most European countries, Croatia’s forests and gardens are teeming with ticks. The good news is that you are unlikely to catch any tick-borne infectious diseases (such as encephalitis or Lyme disease). However, if you visit Croatia in late spring or early summer, you should be aware of these blood-sucking insects. Good insect repellent and full-length clothing will help you avoid troubles with ticks.