Most wild animals in France are protected by law from hunting and trapping – but some, notably those on a new government list are considered ‘pests’, and can be destroyed in certain circumstances.
The majority of wild animals in France – mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects – are protected by law from being killed, captured or mutilated.
The law also protects them from being "intentionally disturbed" and from the destruction of their eggs, nests or breeding sites, and from manmade changes to their habitats.
The full list of protected species is long and involved, and includes numerous animals protected globally, many of which are not native to France.
Notable species found in France that are protected are: the brown bear, the wolf, the lynx, the European otter, the beaver, hedgehog and red squirrel.
