Animals

What to do if you see a stray dog or cat in France

Follow these steps to help a lost animal find its owner

Check local jellyfish levels near you in France with online tools

Interactive maps can show where they have been registered in recent days

Warning to dog owners as outbreak of deadly virus recorded in central France

Parvovirus can have a mortality rate of over 90% if untreated and is easily spread

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Photos: rare otters captured in south of France using nocturnal camera

Recolonisation and protection efforts are paying off in several regions around the country

Invasive Japanese beetles detected in eastern France

Residents are being asked to report beetles

Tick season lasting longer in France: where are they most common and how to prevent them?

Parents are being warned in particular to check their children for ticks as animals spread throughout France

What dangerous snakes are in France and what to do if you spot one

Anyone killing a snake risks a fine and potentially a prison sentence

Wasps, mosquitoes, hornets, ants: how to deal with summer insects in France

Natural repellents can keep some pests away

What to do if stung by a jellyfish at a beach in France

Swimmers may spot the aquatic animal close to the shoreline

Are dogs allowed on public transport in France or are they banned?

Rules differ depending on the type of transport used

Neighbour who complained about noisy cockerel in France ordered to pay €3,500

The complainant said the animal, which has since died, crowed too loudly and too often

Three people left in critical condition after bee swarm attacks Aurillac town centre

Attack took place over several minutes

Jogger attacked by shepherd’s dogs on solo run in Nice backcountry

A recent legal change impacts the status of guard dog owners following an attack

Fancy fowl and posing peacocks: observe the flamboyance of female birds in France

Jonathan Kemp explores the captivating courtship displays of birds, and explains how you can too

Lynx in France are under threat from poaching and road collisions

Animal protection centres are encouraging the public to report poaching in a strive to boost conservation efforts

When and where are dogs banned at beaches in France?

Communes are able to set own rules – those who do not comply face fines

Killing wolves in France is ‘counterproductive’ amid livestock attacks, say experts

Wolf sightings are on the rise but the killing of these animals remains a divisive issue

Walk with sheep, cows and horses as France’s summer transhumance season begins

Festivals and treks are being hosted across rural and mountain regions in the coming weeks

Neighbour takes couple to court over cockerel noise disturbance

The case is the latest in a long line of objections over cockerels, and reignites the rural-urban debate

Most-stolen dog breeds in France – and how to protect your pet

Thieves target dogs seen as cute, high-status, or with the potential to be aggressive

Is the UK seeking easier EU travel for pets?

After Brexit the UK left the European pet passport scheme making trips more complex and costly

Why 10 million tiger mosquitoes are being deliberately released in Nouvelle-Aquitaine

The potentially dangerous insects are now in every region of the country

Wild boar increasingly present in French communes: What to do if you see one

There has been a sharp rise in the number of boar in recent years

French town brings in €135 fine for dog owners who leave their pet’s mess on pavement

Uncleaned mess is highlighted with fluorescent orange paint

Is compensation possible if a neighbour’s pet damages garden at French second home?

Disorderly pets can wreak havoc on gardens

How to help hedgehogs in your garden in France

Follow these tips to create a healthy ecosystem for this protected species

What are the rules on installing a cat flap or doggy door at my French home?

Local heritage rules must be respected

Photos: 22 bear cubs reported to have been born in Pyrenees in 2024

The current population is at a record, but the animals’ presence in the region is still hotly discussed

Golden jackal spotted in south-west France for the first time

There have only been a handful of sightings of golden jackals since the first in eastern France in 2017

Rules change for dog walking in France from April

Here is how to ensure you and your dog remain within the rules and avoid fines

Only a few days left to trim garden hedges in France or risk a fine

Some areas ban the practice, with the recommended no-trim period lasting until August

Bird of prey attacks jogger in France

Buzzard attacked runner on the head. The birds can be territorial during nesting season

France reports 250,000 dog bites a year: What to do and who is responsible

Any breed of dog can bite, and there are certain rules and restrictions on certain breeds, and what to do in the event of an attack

What is the best way to deal with ‘stink bugs’ in our French home?

The bugs arrived from Asia and are considered an invasive species

Errors to avoid and how to help wildlife as you get your garden in France ready for spring

Gardening with care can make a big difference at this time of year

Dordogne resident claims to catch 1,300 Asian hornets in a day using this technique

Homemade concoction of alcohol and syrup attracts and traps hornets but repels bees keeping pollinators safe

Photo: new road hazard for drivers in Brittany… a wallaby

The mysterious animal has been seen several times since December

Are French vet costs regulated by the government?

There are several ways you may be able to reduce annual fees

Alert after several dogs found to have been poisoned in south-west France

Cases are widespread in and around Bordeaux and reports are increasing

8 out of 10 people in France want hunting banned at weekend

A similar percentage is in favour of banning hunting during school holidays as well

Mystery of white flags placed in dog mess on streets in Dordogne

Anonymous flag-planter plans to keep up with action as guilty owners go back to clean up

French city first to sign European animal protection decree: what does it say?

The declaration is intended to help European judges and MPs to ‘build reasoning’ when considering future animal welfare cases

What are France’s top 10 favourite dog breeds? Two lists disagree

The Australian Shepherd tops both rankings…but what about the rest?

VIDEO: First otter for nearly a century captured on Normandy camera

The sighting astounded researchers as ecological management encourages a resurgence of otter numbers in several French regions

Help scientists this weekend by counting birds in your French garden

France’s largest scientific programme relaunches for the avian wintering season

Reprieve for wild boar woman found and looks after at French home

The woman now cares for the animal like a pet after it appeared to seek refuge on her property

Horse ID cards adapted to track wolves in western France

A vet was able to prove that four different male wolves were living in Brittany by using the system

Close encounters with a French serpent and what to do if it happens to you

Columnist Jonathan Kemp gives advice for anyone coming across a snake in their garden

What is the process for obtaining a French pet passport for animal from UK?

Pets moving to France must be registered on pet database within one week of arrival

Major recall of dry pet food across France over salmonella risk

Several supermarkets including E.Leclerc and Intermarché have recalled products

Interview: 'It’s time animal welfare became a political issue in France'

SPA president Jacques-Charles Fombonne talks about abandoned dogs, the economic realities of keeping a pet and why he is on a mission to influence policy-makers

Bees protected from Asian hornet attacks by award-winning French device

Frédérique Ripet has won a top business award for creating a device that protects hives from deadly attacks

South of France sea life park to close: what will happen to animals?

Ban on live whale and dolphin shows was ‘fatal blow’ for park’s finances

Early detection crucial, says expert, as invasive ants plague French homes

We cover tips on how to minimise the risk of pests in your home throughout the year

MAP: Wolves have returned to most French departments

Gironde is the latest department to confirm the presence of the animal after a century of absence

Electric ants spotted in south of France for second time

Fears of a large colony in the Var department and beyond, as aggressive animals threaten pets and local biodiversity

France's first national park is an outdoor haven

Discover the breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity of Parc National de la Vanoise, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region

Associations campaign to stop culling of 500 chamois in France

Animal activists have condemned what they see as ‘slaughter’, but hunters have denied this

Tiger mosquitoes are still biting in France in November - wlll it end soon?

The insect can spread disease and is found in many areas of the country

Brittany steps up fight against rising numbers of wild boar

Global warming is enabling the boar to proliferate which brings higher risks to roads, trains, farms, and private residents

Dog thefts on rise in France: what breeds are being targeted and where

More than 20,000 dogs were reported as lost nationwide in 2023

Confirmed: animal spotted in Gironde, south-west France, is a wolf

The prefect is now organising a ‘surveillance cell’ to decide on the next steps and protect farmer livestock

Call for safer pet travel measures at French borders

Animal advocates push for enhanced security at ports and Eurotunnel to prevent animals escaping during microchip checks

‘Humpback whale’ spotted in Seine river

Animal is often seen on French coast but rarely travels inland

Car hits 12 boars on motorway in Normandy: three people injured

Road closed for nearly an hour after incident

PHOTO: Driver crosses camel on a road in the west of France

The animal had escaped from a nearby travelling circus and taken a stroll

Vulture attacks and injures woman in her garden in France

It is believed to be the first attack of its kind in the country

Expert casts doubt on claims bites from French 'violin' spider killed two

'No deaths from a spider bite' have ever been recorded in France

Guide dog associations angry over post-Brexit fees to visit France

Owners face increased costs and bureaucracy to travel across the Channel

Hiker dies after Asian hornet attack in Brittany

The 77-year-old was part of a group walking on a trail near a nest at the foot of a tree

Millions of insects migrate over France from northern Europe to southern Spain

These insects travel from as far as Sweden or the UK on an instinctual, genetic basis

Dogs banned from French city water spaces after pet dies

The municipality of Lille issued the order after a dog was found to have died from blue-green algae poisoning

Why did a French vet charge a €200 ‘cremation fee’?

Pets who die must also be have information on ‘pet database’ updated

Tortoise thought to be extinct in French Pyrenees rediscovered by walkers

The species is one of the most endangered reptiles in Europe

Pet care to be part of France’s school curriculum from September 2024

The new programme will aim to teach respect and compassion for pets, in a bid to fight animal mistreatment