Bears are present across Europe, inhabiting diverse regions. While historical human expansion significantly reduced their distribution, Europe is home to several distinct bear populations today.
European Bear Species and Habitats
The primary bear species in Europe is the Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos). It occupies a wide range of environments, though its populations are largely restricted to less accessible, often mountainous, and densely forested areas. Brown bears are found across Scandinavia, including Sweden, Finland, and parts of Norway. Major populations also exist in Eastern Europe, particularly within the Carpathian Mountain range, spanning countries such as Romania, Slovakia, Poland, and Ukraine.
Further south, brown bear groups persist in the Dinaric-Pindos mountain chain, which includes Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Greece. Isolated populations are also present in Western Europe, such as in the Spanish/French Pyrenees, the Cantabrian Mountains in Spain, and the Alps across Italy, Switzerland, and Austria. They require large, undisturbed forest areas that provide abundant food and safe refuge. The size of an individual bear’s territory can vary significantly, ranging from approximately 100 to 1,000 square kilometers, depending on food availability.
Current Populations and Conservation Status
Europe is home to approximately 17,000 to 18,000 brown bears (excluding Russia), with about 15,000 to 16,000 residing within the European Union. The Carpathian Mountains host the largest population outside Russia, with numbers estimated between 5,000 and 10,000 individuals, particularly in Romania. Other substantial populations include those in Scandinavia, with Sweden having nearly 3,000 bears and Finland around 2,000.
Conservation efforts have led to stable or increasing brown bear populations in many areas. The species benefits from legal protections under the European Union’s Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC). This directive lists brown bears in Annex II as a species of community interest requiring special conservation areas, and in Annex IV as a species in need of strict protection. This directive prohibits their capture, killing, or disturbance, contributing to their recovery in regions where they were once severely threatened. Successful reintroduction programs have also helped augment small, isolated populations in areas like the Austrian Alps, northeastern Italy, and the Pyrenees.
Human-Bear Interactions and Management
Coexistence between humans and bears in Europe involves managing interactions, which can sometimes lead to conflicts. Bears, being omnivores, are attracted to human food sources, leading to livestock depredation, damage to crops, beehives, or property. These incidents often occur when bears become habituated to easily accessible food in human settlements or agricultural areas.
To mitigate these conflicts, management strategies are employed across Europe. These include the use of electric fences to protect livestock and beehives, deployment of guardian dogs, and installation of bear-resistant waste containers to deter bears from urban areas. Compensation schemes are also in place in many countries to reimburse stakeholders for damages caused by bears, which can help foster tolerance among local communities. For those in bear habitats, safety advice emphasizes making noise to avoid surprising a bear and remaining calm if an encounter occurs, slowly backing away without running. Though rare, attacks on humans are defensive, often occurring when a bear feels threatened or is protecting cubs or a food source.