24/08/2026
The Tatras are pretty special for wildlife. 🏔️ With around 71% of the Polish Tatra National Park under strict protection, you can spot wild animals surprisingly close to Zakopane. Head into the National Park on foot or skis and keep your eyes open — here’s what you’ve got the best chance of seeing this winter…
Probably the easiest big animal to spot — and you don’t always have to leave town! Deer regularly wander into the quieter, greener parts of Zakopane during winter, especially around the edges of the town where our Chalets are located. Further into the forests and valleys, your best chance is around early morning or late afternoon.
One of the most special sightings in the Tatras. They stay in the mountains all winter and can often be spotted on rocky slopes and open mountain terrain. Keep an eye above the trail — they can be surprisingly hard to pick out against the winter landscape.
They’re around all winter, and over the last couple of seasons a few foxes have become regular visitors around some of the mountain huts and restaurants, so you may even get lucky while stopping for a warming drink or lunch. Otherwise, look around forest edges, meadows and quieter valleys, especially early or late in the day.
More of a forest and lower-valley sighting than something you’ll see high in the mountains. They remain active through winter and can turn up in quieter wooded areas around Zakopane.
Yes, bears live in the Tatras, but winter isn’t really the time to expect one. They spend most of the colder months tucked away in their dens, although March can bring the first sightings as they start waking up and becoming active again. Still a very lucky sighting — and definitely one to admire from a safe distance!
