Almost exactly a year ago to the day, a brown bear fell into a camera trap in the Oberallgäu district – now there is another bear nearby: a few kilometers from the Allgäu, a wildlife camera photographed the animal in the municipality of Lech am Arlberg in Austria on Wednesday night. “There is currently no indication that the brown bear found in Vorarlberg is moving to Bavaria. We are in close contact with the authorities in Vorarlberg on this matter,” a spokesman for the Bavarian State Office for the Environment said on Friday in response to a query.
The Oberallgäu district office is nevertheless preparing for a possible visit. “We have also heard that a bear is in the vicinity of the Oberallgäu district,” the district office said in response to a query on Friday. But: “The bear is a wild animal, we do not know which route it will take. Perhaps it will decide to cross the Austrian/German border in our area, perhaps not.”
After the bear’s brief visit to the Bad Hindelang municipality in May last year, the Oberallgäu district administrator Indra Baier-Müller launched the “Brown Bear Initiative” in order to be even better prepared for such situations. In mid-June, there will be a non-public meeting for an exchange with the Alpine districts and representatives of the Alpine economy, the district office further announced.
“As always when you encounter wild animals in the wild, you should exercise caution and follow general rules of conduct,” warned the district office in the event of an encounter. Ever since the fatal attack by the brown bear Gaia on a jogger in the Italian Trentino, it has been clear: the animals are not cuddly teddy bears.
According to the Austrian state of Vorarlberg, the animal photographed in Lech am Arlberg is probably a young male bear that probably came to Vorarlberg from Italy via the Lech Valley. Hubert Schatz, the state wildlife ecologist for the state of Vorarlberg, said on Thursday that it was possible that it would migrate further to Germany. It is not yet possible to say whether the animal is showing any behavioral abnormalities. “But there is no reason to panic,” said Schatz. He does not believe that the bear will cause any major problems.
“Show respect and keep your distance”
However, the authorities in the Lech area recommend being particularly vigilant, not leaving marked paths and keeping dogs on a leash. In 2006, Bruno the brown bear had already stoked fears with his hungry attacks on sheep and his lack of fear of people, even visiting villages. The Bavarian authorities had therefore already drawn up behavioral guidelines and tips on how to deal with bears. “Show respect and keep your distance. Stay as calm and composed as possible,” is the advice of the State Office for the Environment (LfU) in the event of an encounter with a bear. “Stand still and draw the bear’s attention to you by speaking calmly and making slow arm movements.” You should not run away or try to chase it away. “Keep an eye on the bear and retreat slowly and in a controlled manner. In any case, give the bear an opportunity to escape.”
And if the bear actually attacks: “Lie flat on your stomach on the ground or crouch on the ground with your hands behind your neck. If you have one, your backpack will protect your back. The bear will usually leave you alone or just sniff you. Stay in your position and wait until the bear has moved far enough away.”
A year ago, a bear had also left tracks in the Upper Bavarian districts of Rosenheim and Miesbach. It is said that it had also previously been in Tyrol and had been photographed by a wildlife camera in the Kufstein district. Bear tracks were also discovered in the snow near Stanzach in the Reutte district in Tyrol. The nearest bear population is in the Italian Trentino, about 120 kilometers from Bavaria, with around 100 animals. WWF Austria estimates the bear population in Carinthia and East Tyrol to be five to eight bears.