Wildlife to love in Malta
Malta may not have the biggest green areas in Europe, but that’s not to say that our countryside is not teeming with wildlife. A spring stroll around the island’s coastline is likely to reveal some surprises, so keep your camera at the ready and snap away. Always remember not to disturb any living creature!
Hedgehogs
You don’t have to venture much off-the-beaten track to spot hedgehog families sauntering around after sunset. Some of the quieter villages leave out milk, cat food and cardboard boxes offering shelter to the little prickly creatures, and you’re likely to a couple trying to cross country lanes, so always keep an eye out while driving.
Pygmy Shrews
While they’re surprisingly common across the Maltese Islands, you’ll need a bit of a trained eye to spot one of these tiny, yet super-fast, creatures. If you do, don’t mistake it for a mouse. You can tell if you’ve found a real shrew from the very pointed snout, but don’t attempt to touch it. Let it forage and roam in peace!
Cat Snakes
Malta’s famous lifa, a small snake that contains no venom, is closely tied to St Paul’s shipwreck in Malta. Legend has it that when the saint landed on the island during a storm, he got bitten by a lifa. As the Maltese looked on in horror, he performed a miracle and removed all venom from the reptile. Whatever you choose to believe, one thing’s for sure: this snake is harmless.
Dolphins
Keep your eyes peeled when crossing over to Gozo or Comino as commuters often come across shoals of friendly dolphins which continue swimming alongside the ferry. Sometimes they will even come close to shore and spend some time cavorting before swimming back to the open sea.
Sea turtles
Sadly not as common as they used to be, but some bays like Ramla l-Ħamra, Golden Bay and Ġnejna still get turtles laying their eggs there every summer. When this happens, it’s a sight to behold and the entire island springs into action to protect the eggs.
Where to spot wildlife in Malta
The Northern side of the island is always a good bet, as there are many country lanes and fields that are open to the public. The Southern side also boasts lovely greenery and is worth exploring. There are several nature reserves where wildlife is protected and is thus more abundant, the most well-known being Għadira, Simar, Salina and Buskett.
