Today, about 150 brown bears inhabit Latvia, and their number is gradually increasing. Along with this, the likelihood of encountering the master of the forest during a walk, mushroom picking, or working in the woods is also growing.
In order for people to recognize signs of the animal's presence in advance and avoid unwanted encounters, the Nature Conservation Administration, together with specialists from the Forest Research Institute "Silava" and the National Museum of Nature, has prepared recommendations explaining how to recognize bear tracks and how to behave if a bear is nearby.
The materials describe the behavior of bears, their preferences, and signs that indicate the animal lives nearby. It is not uncommon to see tracks, broken branches, grooves on tree trunks, or remnants of food in nature, which indicate the recent presence of the predator. This knowledge helps not only hunters and foresters but also ordinary nature enthusiasts — mushroom pickers, berry pickers, and travelers.
The brown bear is the largest predator in Latvia. Females can weigh up to 150 kilograms, while males can weigh up to 300. They live up to thirty years. Bears choose large areas of old forests, preferring mixed forests that are adjacent to swamps, clearings, or bodies of water. They create dens for hibernation in sheltered dry places near water.
Bears usually hibernate from October to December, waking up in March or April. However, early awakenings are becoming more frequent due to warmer winters, sudden weather changes, or human interference — for example, logging near the den. Although bears try to avoid humans, anxiety, early awakening, or the presence of cubs can make them dangerous.
There are about two hundred thousand brown bears in the world. The largest populations are recorded in Russia, Canada, the USA, and Romania. In Europe, bears have disappeared in many countries but are gradually returning. In Latvia, the brown bear is a protected species, and hunting it is prohibited.
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