Although polar bears, grizzly and Kodiak are better known than most, there are plenty of fantastic bear viewing opportunities available in Europe. European brown bear visits are available throughout the continent, offering tourists the chance to see one of the most iconic and misunderstood animals on the continent - but where are the best places for walking bear?
The largest populations
The Eurasian brown bear found in Europe. The species was expelled from Great Britain and Ireland for over a millennium, but has continued to grow in the continent. Large populations living east of the Ural Mountains in Russia, which makes its home in the forests of Siberia. Bear visits to this area tend to be more difficult to achieve, due to the vastness of the territory and the transient nature of bear populations.
Scandinavian populations
One of the best regions to bear is Baltoscandia tours: excursions take this area are well organized, allowing visitors to stay near the Finnish border in Russia. The area is a desert, and in the summer months, large groups of bears can be seen from specially constructed bear skins. Scandinavia, and the area around the Baltic Sea, has seen an increase in bear numbers in recent years, thanks in large part to the ongoing conservation efforts, and circuits have are a great way to support these efforts, while that to get to enjoy the creatures in their natural habitat. It is reported that about 2,000 bears in Sweden, 1,200 in Finland, 700 in Estonia and 70 in Norway.
Bears elsewhere
There are opportunities for travel in other parts of the continent, allowing you to have experience in a variety of climates. The population of bears in the Pyrenees and the Cantabrian Mountains are very small, with the French authorities bear the import of Slovenia in an attempt to bolster the numbers. In Italy there are small populations of bears in the regions of Abruzzo and Trentino.
There are larger populations in Romania, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia and Bulgaria, while smaller groups in Albania, Greece, Serbia, Montenegro and Ukraine. The researchers divided these populations into two groups: the Balkans, comprising around 3,000 individual bears, and the group of the Carpathians, which total more than 5,000 bears.
Bear tour opportunities
In much of Europe there are great opportunities to see bears on the road. Despite a relatively healthy, European brown bears are still at risk, being driven more and more small isolated patches. As their habitat is destroyed and not allowed to have human contact becomes a justification for governments to provide hunting licenses, there is a greater need for us to protect these magnificent creatures, well organized and responsible tours are a fantastic way to do this.
Paul Stanbury is the Operations Manager for Naturetrek, a tour operator specializing in natural history tours led by experts and support worldwide. Naturetrek take more than 25 years of experience to your trip to take some of the most spectacular regions on Earth.
The largest populations
The Eurasian brown bear found in Europe. The species was expelled from Great Britain and Ireland for over a millennium, but has continued to grow in the continent. Large populations living east of the Ural Mountains in Russia, which makes its home in the forests of Siberia. Bear visits to this area tend to be more difficult to achieve, due to the vastness of the territory and the transient nature of bear populations.
Scandinavian populations
One of the best regions to bear is Baltoscandia tours: excursions take this area are well organized, allowing visitors to stay near the Finnish border in Russia. The area is a desert, and in the summer months, large groups of bears can be seen from specially constructed bear skins. Scandinavia, and the area around the Baltic Sea, has seen an increase in bear numbers in recent years, thanks in large part to the ongoing conservation efforts, and circuits have are a great way to support these efforts, while that to get to enjoy the creatures in their natural habitat. It is reported that about 2,000 bears in Sweden, 1,200 in Finland, 700 in Estonia and 70 in Norway.
Bears elsewhere
There are opportunities for travel in other parts of the continent, allowing you to have experience in a variety of climates. The population of bears in the Pyrenees and the Cantabrian Mountains are very small, with the French authorities bear the import of Slovenia in an attempt to bolster the numbers. In Italy there are small populations of bears in the regions of Abruzzo and Trentino.
There are larger populations in Romania, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia and Bulgaria, while smaller groups in Albania, Greece, Serbia, Montenegro and Ukraine. The researchers divided these populations into two groups: the Balkans, comprising around 3,000 individual bears, and the group of the Carpathians, which total more than 5,000 bears.
Bear tour opportunities
In much of Europe there are great opportunities to see bears on the road. Despite a relatively healthy, European brown bears are still at risk, being driven more and more small isolated patches. As their habitat is destroyed and not allowed to have human contact becomes a justification for governments to provide hunting licenses, there is a greater need for us to protect these magnificent creatures, well organized and responsible tours are a fantastic way to do this.
Paul Stanbury is the Operations Manager for Naturetrek, a tour operator specializing in natural history tours led by experts and support worldwide. Naturetrek take more than 25 years of experience to your trip to take some of the most spectacular regions on Earth.
