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Predatory animals of Romania

Romania’s predatory animals capture other animals for food. Wolves, Eurasian lynxes and wildcats are familiar examples, but otters, birds of prey, dragonflies and aphid-eating ladybirds are predators too.

Predation describes a way of feeding, not a measure of danger to people. A small animal may be a predator, and an omnivorous species may hunt without eating meat exclusively.

Predators of forests, fields and waterways

  • Mammals: wolves, lynxes, wildcats, weasels, polecats and martens capture prey of different sizes. Red foxes and golden jackals have mixed diets that include hunted animals.
  • Predators associated with water: otters and European mink search for food near waterways, while water shrews capture small animals.
  • Birds: local hawks and falcons hunt by day; owls such as the tawny owl are mainly active at night. Storks and herons also capture prey.
  • Reptiles and amphibians: local snakes, lizards and adult frogs may eat other animals, depending on the species.
  • Insects: dragonflies capture prey as both larvae and adults. Larvae of some hoverflies and many ladybirds eat aphids.

How do they find and capture prey?

Methods differ according to body structure, senses and habitat. Wolves may cooperate, lynxes approach quietly and weasels can slip through narrow places. Local bats mainly catch insects, using echolocation to navigate and find food.

Diet can change during an animal’s life. For example, adult hoverflies visit flowers, while only the larvae of certain species are predators. Similarly, adult frogs have different diets from many tadpoles.

The relationship between predators and prey

Predators form part of food webs and are influenced by prey availability and habitat quality. Loss of vegetation, water pollution or forest fragmentation can affect both sides of this relationship.

Frequently asked questions

  • What does it mean for an animal to be a predator? It means that it catches and eats other animals. Some species hunt only during a particular life stage and may also use other food sources.
  • Are all predators dangerous to people? No. Dragonflies and aphid-eating ladybirds are predators, but they are harmless to people.
  • Are hoverflies predators? Larvae of some hoverfly species capture aphids. Adults usually feed at flowers, and larvae of other species have different diets.