Big 5 of Groningen

Animal spotting in Groningen nature

All the way to Africa by plane to spot the Big Five? No need to. There are a lot of beautiful animal species in Groningen's nature too. From the majestic white-tailed eagle to cute otters. We have listed the five icons of Groningen for you. And of course, we also tell you immediately where you can come across them in Groningen. That is very handy.

Bald Eagle

In circles they hover above the landscape, peering down at the ground. And then suddenly a dive down, hebbes, out of the water he has caught a fish. The white-tailed eagle is the largest bird of prey found in the Netherlands and an excellent fisherman. Until the beginning of this century, the species had completely disappeared from the Netherlands, but now the white-tailed eagles are all the way back. So too in Groningen. Several couples can be found here that raise young every year. You can recognise them by their more than two-metre wings, the yellow bill and the white tail. Also useful to know: if the water birds in the neighbourhood get restless, it often means that a white-tailed eagle is approaching.

Seal

The icon of the Wadden Sea is, of course, the seal. But did you know that there are two different kinds of seals? The common and the grey seal. You can see the difference best by looking at the head; a grey seal has a fairly pointed head, while that of a common seal is more rounded. The grey seal is also somewhat larger, making it the largest predator in the Wadden Sea. In May and June, the common seals give birth and the sandbanks are full of them. A great place to see this is at the zeehondenkijkwand at the Punt van Reide.

Beaver

Spotted gnawed trees? Fat chance a beaver is nearby. These downy animals are the largest rodents found in Europe. With their large orange incisors, they gnaw down trees to build their distinctive dams and lodges. The chances of seeing a beaver at work in broad daylight are not very high, as beavers are active at night. You will probably have more success at dusk. Besides beavers, Groningen is also home to muskrats and beaver rats, which look very similar. The difference is easiest to see when they are on land: beavers have a much flatter and broader tail than the other two species.

Konik

Originally, the konik horse is not found in Groningen, but over the years this Polish grazer has become an indispensable species in Groningen's nature. Koniks live in large groups and are used as natural grass cutters in various areas. They ensure that nature areas do not become overgrown and maintain their open character. Did you know that Groningen is the first place where they were used in this way? The Ennemaborg estate was used to try it out. It was such a success that they still gallop around there and have also been released in many other places.

Otter

Otter spotted? Then you know the water nearby is clean and clear. Otters are quite divas and don't like filth. For a long time, these cute marten-like creatures did not fare well in the Netherlands. Due to hunting and cars, the species was even extinct here in 1988. Since then, a lot of work has been done to bring the species back and successfully, it is now found in many more places. They don't shy away from a city trip either, as hunting otters have been spotted regularly in the city's ring of canals. Like the beaver, the otter goes out mainly at night.

Also discover

  • Nature

  • Special outings with animals

  • Bird watching in the Lauwersmeer lake

  • Watch towers

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