The Estonian Environmental Board has issued special permits to hunt two bears in the Võõbu village area of Järva County, Estonia. The bears, which are approximately one and a half years old, were born last year.

The animals have repeatedly entered home yards despite attempts to scare them away and show no fear of humans. Tanel Türna, the head of the hunting and aquatic wildlife department at the Estonian Environmental Board, said the young bears' behavior has been extremely unusual.

The bears in Võõbu village did not even fear a rescue truck's siren.
— Tanel Türna, head of the hunting and aquatic wildlife department at the Estonian Environmental Board

While three bears have been seen in the Järva County area, one has not returned to settlements as frequently as the others. Türna suggested that people may have caused the bears' behavior by feeding them.

The Environmental Board stated that nuisance-bear permits are a last resort and that zoos and wildlife parks cannot take the bears into their collections. To avoid attracting bears, the Board advised people to store leftover garden produce in closed compost bins or sealed containers.

Changes to hunting regulations

In April, the Estonian Climate Ministry changed hunting rules so that bears can only be hunted with a special permit from the Estonian Environmental Board. The Board has issued six such special permits so far this year.

Marko Vinni, an adviser to the Estonian Hunters' Society, said that no bears have been hunted in Estonia this year because the first special permits were only issued two weeks ago. Vinni estimated that out of the traditional 150 bears, they will not hunt even ten by the end of the year.

Traditional bear hunting can practically no longer be carried out.
— Marko Vinni, adviser to the Estonian Hunters' Society

Bear population trends

The brown bear population in Estonia has been on an upward trend since 2013. According to the Estonian Environmental Agency, 300 bear cubs are born in Estonia each year.

Estimates regarding the total population vary. The Estonian Environmental Board estimates there are 1,100 bears, while the Estonian Hunters' Society estimates the population is approximately 1,500.

Marko Vinni, an adviser to the Estonian Hunters' Society, stated that even accounting for natural mortality, as many as 200 bears may be added to the wild annually.

1,100 bears

Estimated brown bear population according to the Estonian Environmental Board