Key Facts
• Brown bear attacks are rising in Romania, Europe’s largest bear habitat.
• Preddeal, a popular winter sports town, reported over 300 bear sightings in 2025.
• A man was critically injured in a bear attack while walking in Preddeal.
• Bears are drawn to garbage due to broken or lidless trash bins.
• Tourists often approach or feed wild animals, worsening the issue.
• Baile Tusnad implemented electric fences and banned feeding to reduce bear incidents.
• Electric fences emit sounds and vibrations that deter bears from approaching.
• Fruit-bearing trees were removed to eliminate food sources in Baile Tusnad.
• Bear sightings in Baile Tusnad dropped from 238 in 2021 to 6 in 2025.
• Romania’s government now allows immediate shooting of dangerous bears, reversing prior protection laws.
• 19 fatalities from bear attacks were recorded in Romania over the past five years.
• Experts stress education for coexistence, discouraging feeding or photographing bears.
Summary
Romania, home to Europe’s largest brown bear population, faces increasing bear attacks, with over 300 sightings in Preddeal alone in 2025. Poor waste management and tourist behavior exacerbate the problem. However, Baile Tusnad successfully reduced incidents to just six this year through measures like electric fences, banning feeding, and removing food sources. Nationally, the government now permits shooting dangerous bears, a shift from prior conservation laws. Experts advocate for public education to ensure safe coexistence with wildlife.
