Bears waking up from hibernation may be in a bad mood and behave unpredictably, so the Department of the Environment of Estonia urges nature walkers to be cautious.
Male bears usually wake up in March when it gets warmer and their winter den becomes damp. Female bears with cubs mostly stay in the den until April. Although a bear generally avoids humans and notices them from afar due to its keen sense of smell, unexpected encounters are still possible. In such cases, the Department of the Environment advises slowly backing away from the animal, avoiding sudden movements.
If a bear notices a person, it is important to maintain distance, avoid direct eye contact, and speak in a calm voice so that the animal does not perceive it as a threat.
The Department of the Environment recommends keeping pets on a leash during outdoor walks and leaving areas where bear tracks, claw marks on trees, or broken young trees are visible.
Over the past twenty years, the bear population in Estonia has significantly increased; it is estimated that at least a thousand individuals inhabit the country.
