They also have a bad habit of looking for leftovers such as yogurt, sweets, cooked meat and sweet drinks in rubbish bins in the village and in car parks along the roads, which are mostly frequented by tourists.
That can be dangerous. A bear that has been surprised and angered by the presence of tourists — who often don't know how to react in such a situation — can inflict serious injuries.
When a bear causes too much damage or poses a danger to people, hunters are authorized to kill it by the Ministry of Environment.
As well as these rare cases, each year the ministry gives around 60 permits to kill bears in the country. But as it is forbidden to kill a bear weighing more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds), the number of animals that can be hunted is quite limited. An adult male weighs around 250 kilograms (550 pounds).
Name: Brown Bear (
Ursus arctos)
Primary Classification: Ursida (Bears)
Location: Mainly Canada, Alaska and Russia. Also Europe, Syria, northern India, the continental United States and other countries.
Habitat: A variety of habitats, preferring open areas such as tundra, alpine meadows and coastlines.
Diet: Mainly vegetation, including grasses, roots, moss, bulbs and tubers. Also insects, fungus, small mammals, salmon and carrion.
Size: Averages 5 to 9 ft from head to rump and 200 to 1,700 lbs in weight.
Description: Dense, dark brown fur; small, amber-colored eyes; broad, black nose; small, round ears; shoulder hump; long, curved, nonretractable claws.
Cool Facts: It has some of the largest olfactory membranes in the animal kingdom, allowing it to detect scents from over a mile away. It uses its claws to dig for roots and tubers, excavate small mammals from their burrows, dig depressions in the ground for resting and to mark trees, communicating territorial boundaries and reproductive status.
Conservation Status: Common, but threatened in some parts of its range.
Major Threat(s): Habitat loss and poaching.
What Can I Do?: Visit
Bear Trust International and
Ursus International Conservation Institute for information on how you can help.
