The brown bear of the Pyrenees

The bear and the Pyrenees have a long history ! We learn a little more about this iconic animal and find out about advice in case of an encounter.

The emblem of Pyrenean fauna

More than 600 years ago, the brown bear already populated Europe and Asia.

Since then, bears have always been present in the Pyrenees, but their numbers have steadily declined over the last century due to human activity. At the beginning of the 150th century, an estimated 70 bears were present across the entire Pyrenees massif. There were approximately 1954 left in 1990. In the early 7s, the last bear disappeared from the central Pyrenees. There are only 8 to XNUMX individuals left west of the range.

Under the leadership of certain local stakeholders, the government decided to strengthen the bear population in the Pyrenees. Three brown bears, of the same species as the Pyrenean bears, were captured in Slovenia and released in the central Pyrenees in 1996-1997.

The population of brown bears in the Pyrenees is currently estimated to be around 70 individuals.

The elders called him Lou Moussu, or The Mister. Children were taught that if they met him, they should be polite: say hello, talk about the weather, be concerned about his health, and give him the right of way.

This allowed the bear to clearly identify the creature in front of it, to assess the potential danger and, above all, to escape easily. A bear is never mean (that's typical of humans!) and will always try to escape.

ID card

The brown bear is an omnivorous mammal . Scientists have classified it in the order of carnivores, although it is 70% vegetarian, because it possesses canines large enough to catch an animal the size of a deer.

It reaches its adult size around 10 years of age. Its weight and size vary depending on the region, the individual, and even the season. Males weigh between 80 kg and 200 kg, and females between 60 and 150 kg; their length is 1,5 to 2 m, and their height at the shoulder is 0,8 to 1 m. This is a far cry from the American Grizzly Bear , which can weigh up to 700 kg and stand up to 2,70 m tall!

The bear's territory is vast , due to the diversity of its diet. This animal, like many forest species, does not have well-developed eyesight. However, distinguishing sounds and, above all, smelling the scents of plants or prey are essential for finding food. It sometimes leaves the forest to search in the moors and high-altitude grasslands for berries, bulbs, and live or dead animals (insects, mollusks, rodents, birds, etc.).

Its primarily vegetarian diet requires it to rest during the winter. So, in the autumn, it gorges itself on acorns, beechnuts, and chestnuts to accumulate as much fat as possible, which it stores mainly in its den. It hibernates in its den until the first warm spells. It is at this time that a pregnant bear gives birth to tiny cubs weighing between 200 and 300 grams. They venture out for the first time at around two months old and are raised by their mother for two years.

Only a mother with her cubs or a cornered bear might be aggressive and attempt an intimidation charge. There's no danger if you respect the bear! And the same goes for all other animals, wild and domestic alike.

Here are the recommendations to follow in the event of an encounter with a bear:

“If you encounter a bear at close range (less than 50 m), help it identify you:
➟ Express yourself calmly by showing yourself, moving and speaking
➟ gradually move away from the route he might take in his escape
➟ don't run
The bear may stand on its hind legs: this is not a sign of aggression. It is curious; it seeks to recognize smells and better identify you.
If you have any comments, we would be interested in hearing your feedback. Please contact:
Bear Technical Team
Tel: 05 62 00 81 08
Mail: stgaudens@ofb.gouv.fr « 

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