Will the bear be back at home in Bavaria? Previous sightings – and what experts say

2023-05-21T17:59:46.195Z

Highlights: The last known brown bear was shot in Ruhpolding over 180 years ago. Since then it has been considered extinct in the Free State. The bears are most likely male male bears from Trentino, Italy. It is unlikely that bears will become native to Bavaria again. For this reason, bear populations can only grow very slowly, according to the Environment Office for the Bavarian State for the Environment.. Recently, more and more bears have been sighted in the foothills of the Alps and tracks have been discovered.

Recently, more and more bears have been sighted in the foothills of the Alps and tracks have been discovered. What is known about the bears in Bavaria so far.

Munich – On the night of May 12, the wildlife camera in Unken was triggered: a bear. Again, because a few days earlier a bear had already fallen into the photo trap near Schneizlreuth. It stands to reason that they are the same animal. Especially in the last few weeks, the bear tracks have become more frequent. Will the bear come back and settle in Bavaria?

When did the last brown bear live in Bavaria?

It's been a while since the brown bear was still native to Bavaria. In the past, it was widespread almost throughout Europe and preferred to live in forests. But these disappeared, especially in Western Europe, due to deforestation, which also gradually caused the bear to lose its habitat. In Bavaria, the last known brown bear was shot in Ruhpolding over 180 years ago - since then it has been considered extinct in the Free State.

The bear is coming back: "Problem bear" Bruno

One of the most famous bears is probably the troublemaker "Bruno", who is declared a "problem bear". In 2006, he immigrated from Trentino, Italy, to Bavaria via Austria, tore sheep, goats, rabbits and chickens and plundered beehives. The Bavarian state government classified the animal as a "threat to humans" because it was also in the vicinity of settlements. In the end, he was cleared for firing under protest. Today it is on display stuffed in the Museum Mensch und Natur in Munich.

Since 2019, bear sightings have been increasing

After Bruno, it was quiet for the time being. But in 2019, another bear was spotted. A photo trap cleared a bear in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen – and since then the sightings have been increasing. Just last week, a bear fell into the photo trap in Schneizlreuth and then in Unken, although it is not certain whether it is the same bear. In April, traces were found in the districts of Miesbach and Rosenheim and sheep were torn at Sudelfeld.

The jogger killed by a bear in the Italian province of Trentino caused a particular stir. The incident occurred in April and reignited the discussion about whether the bear could pose a threat to humans.

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What politicians think of the bears

For Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU), bears and wolves are a thorn in the side: He pleads for shooting as soon as farm animals were torn, as he recently announced at a press event at Lake Bichler. Bavaria's Deputy Prime Minister Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters) is also in favor of a quick killing of bears and wolves as soon as they cause problems. Both are calling for the strict EU rules on the protection of animals to be relaxed. The "Bavarian Wolf Ordinance", which has been in force since 1 May, now allows wolves to be shot in Bavaria if there is a threat. Such a regulation does not yet exist for bears.

Christian Hierneis, spokesman for environmental policy and animal welfare of the Green parliamentary group, criticizes the actions of the state government. He does not currently see any danger to humans posed by bears. In an interview with the Abendzeitung, he emphasizes that the state government should support the affected farmers with better livestock protection measures so that grazing animals are protected from attacks.