Aside from birds, Bulgaria's fauna includes most of the Balkan and Mediterranean reptiles (over fifty species) and mammals. Mountainous areas are the habitat of bears, boars, wolves, wild cats, deer, foxes and badgers, while jackals can be found in the Strandzha, and otters and coypu in the coastal wetlands.  Bulgaria boasts some 1,100 species of butterflies and moths and if cave exploring is your forte eight kinds of bats can be spotted.

 

Bulgaria's flora is extremely diverse due to the three types of climate (continental, Mediterranean and steppe) within its borders. Almost a third of the country is covered in trees.  Conifers (Corsican, Scots, Macedonian and white pine, fir, spruce and juniper) are the main variety found in the high mountains of the Pirin, Rila and western Rhodopes.  The Rila, Pirin and Rhodopes are especially rich in wildflowers, herbs and fungi.  These include species that became extinct elsewhere in Europe centuries ago and others that are unique to Bulgaria.

 

If geology is your passion, Bulgaria is great for rock formations and minerals. The Pirin range has some spectacular glacial features, while the Rhodopes abound in odd rock formations such as the “Miraculous Bridges” and the “Stone Wedding”.