Until now, the German Wildlife Foundation has simply announced the “Animal of the Year.”

This year, for the first time, nature lovers can have their say on which animal will be named Animal of the Year 2026. The choices are the golden jackal, the red deer, and the ermine, according to the German Wildlife Foundation in Hamburg. Previously, only the foundation's donors had chosen the winner, but now the online vote is open to everyone.

"We want to inspire even more people to care about native wildlife," said Lea-Carina Hinrichs, conservationist at the German Wildlife Foundation. People living in Germany who are 18 years of age or older can vote until October 2.

All three candidates have one thing in common: They are widespread in Germany and native to so-called open land—meaning meadows, pastures, and field margins. By choosing Animal of the Year each year, the German Wildlife Foundation aims to draw particular attention to an animal that needs human protection. The candidates for 2026 at a glance:

The stoat is the second-smallest predator in Germany. Only the least weasel is smaller. It is considered a skilled hunter and a good climber and swimmer, according to the foundation. The stoat thrives in many environments and can therefore be found anywhere, from the coast to the mountains, where it can find sufficient food and cover.

"A special characteristic is its coat change: In summer, the ermine is brown with a white underside; in winter, some animals turn snow-white. Only the tip of the tail remains black, distinguishing this species from the least weasel." The ermine is threatened primarily by intensive agriculture and habitats with little diversity.

It is larger than a fox, smaller than a wolf, and has white markings on its snout and chin. The golden jackal, originally found primarily in Southern and Eastern Europe and as far as Southeast Asia, now feels at home in Germany. It was first spotted here in 1997. Most recently, a golden jackal made headlines in May for its predation on a flock of sheep on Sylt. Since then, however, no more animals have been killed on the North Sea island.

None is larger than the red deer—at least among the deer species regularly found in Germany. If humans hadn't driven these animals into the forests, the stag, with its magnificent antlers, would be seen much more often in clearings. During the rut in September, you can also hear it. Then the males bellow and fight over the females.

According to the Wildlife Foundation, the often legally defined red deer districts and the severe fragmentation of the landscape by roads are not conducive to the genetic diversity of red deer. This isolates populations and prevents nationwide migrations.