“Brown bears, the most widespread ursid, are not listed as threatened globally because large numbers still inhabit Russia, Canada, Alaska and some parts of Europe. Nevertheless, very small, isolated, and highly vulnerable populations exist in southern Europe and central and southern Asia.
“Several brown bear populations are protected under national or provincial laws. Grizzly bears – brown bears living in interior North America – are considered Threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act outside of Alaska.”
Brown Bear ( Ursus arctos ) photograph by Ivan Seryodkin
Photograph by Ivan Seryodkin with permission via Ann Novek.
Text from the IUCN via Ann Novek.
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD is a critical thinker with expertise in the scientific method.
A magnificent photograph of an awesome creature, thanks Ivan.
There are about 2000-3000 brown bears in Sweden.
During the hunting season in wintertime , many bear cubs became orphans as mothers are scared away from the den. In Sweden there are no rehabilitation homes fof brown bear cubs.
However , there is a very succesful one in Estonia: http://mltk.nigula.ee/?m=9&n=11&sisu=4000&k=69,14,59,31,35,19,61,60,65,64,63,2,58,62,17,23&lang=et&kid=14
Check out the extremly small and cute bear cubs that have been succesfully been released unto the wild. Note on the photographs how small the cubs are , not much bigger than a human hand.
One problame with reintroduced cubs isthat they are not so scared with humans and sometimes visit peoples villages and apple trees.
If you don’t want to encounter a bear in the forest speak loudly, and the bear will go way…
If you still meet a bear speak loudly and calmly and go back the same way that you came from , do not make any threatening movements and don’t run.
The north European brown bear is the most peaceful bear in the world.
However factors that can make the bear aggressive:
1)Injured bear or bear injured by shots
2)Bear mother with cubs
3)Bear mother with yearlings
4) Bear eating carcasses
5) Bears that are surprised by an encounter
6) Bears near the den
7) Dogs
The creature looks somewhat dejected, possibly wishing it was as cute as one of its polar bear cousins – they get all the concerned attention.
They are the same species as Polar Bear as they are known to interbreed. The ones that swim in water have their fur bleached in the same way surfers do.
Anne, where is the wild population in southern Europe? Presumable in some inaccessable area, but there has to be plenty of prey animals, otherwise the local farmers would soon eliminate the bears!
It’s remarkable that such a large predator still exists in the wild there.
Hi Paul,
A very good question.
There is a small population in the mountains between France and Spain, in the Appenine Alps ( Italy) and in Romania.
Brown bears eat as well bears and apples etc but there is a problem with local sheep herders. Though I’m quite sure they are compensated by the EU for the sheep that get killed.
However, it seems curiously that the problems with predatory animals is lesser i southern Europe than in the vast boreal forests in Sweden.
Here they are problem, especially wolves, and the reindeer herders have zero tolerance for big predators . They blame they as well for scattering the rein deer herds.
OOPs, I meant that brown bears eat berries!!!!
Illegal hunting of our big five predatory animals in Sweden is a big problem , no an enormous problem.( BroWn bear, wolf, wolverine, lynx, golden eagle)
The animals are in conflict with farmers, hunters and reindeer herders.
The hunters blame the predators for killing their hunting dogs and competing for the prey in the forests.
Statistics show that staY dogs are the main cause for the killings of farm animal not predatory animals. The hunters are as well wrong about their hunting dogs. Wolves and bears are not the main killers , but they are run over by cars.
Recently I have been involved in an organisation that works against illegal hunting. They inform the public ( which is divided beteen our old friends the farmers vs the urbanites), how to fence in sheep correctly against predators, using watch dogs etc….