EXPLAINED: What to do if you meet a bear in Sweden's forests
As the hibernation season comes to an end and the Swedish brown bears start to make an appearance once again, it’s worth knowing what to do if you come across one of these creatures.
How many bears are there in Sweden and where are they?
According to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, there were approximately 2,800 bears in the country in the autumn of 2022. The estimate is based on information from the public - mainly hunters - along with tests that are carried out on bear droppings.
Bears are mainly found north of Dalarna and in Gävleborg, with the highest population of bears found in Jämtland, near the border with Norway.
Are you likely to meet a bear?
“If you’re out in woods where there are a lot of bears for a long time, then you might see one and see tracks, but bears normally keep to themselves,” Martin Källberg, from Swedish hunting magazine Svensk Jakt, told The Local. "They don’t really want to show themselves that much."
Meeting a bear, he said is very uncommon.
“There are very few complications between people and bears. Those that happen are normally when it's a hunting situation, when you have a dog involved or multiple dogs involved, when it's a high-stress situation [for the bear] or, in some rare instances, when bears learn that they can feed off trash cans.”
What should you do if you’re in an area where there are lots of bears?
When out in nature in areas where there could be bears, you should try first of all to make your presence known.
You can do this by making noise as you make your way through the forest or while walking up a mountain, for example by clapping your hands or speaking loudly, but calmly so that any bears in the area know you’re there. If a bear is surprised it is more likely to be aggressive.
“If you sneak in very quietly and come between a female bear and her cubs, then you could have a bad situation,” Källberg said.
“But with these animals, it's very difficult to end up in a situation like that, because they hear and smell far better than you can hear them.”
It’s also important, Källberg added, to make sure that your dog remains close to you if you take it with you out into areas where bears could be present. Dogs can stress or provoke bears, or even lead the bears to you.
Between March 1st and August 20th, your dog must be on a leash in accordance with Swedish law.
Dogs usually pick up a bear’s scent and react to it since they know that it comes from a potent predator.
What if you come into contact with one?
If you come into contact with a bear, it is best not to run away. Bears can run twice as fast as humans, including uphill. They’re also excellent climbers, so climbing a tree is not a great idea either.
The best thing to do if you find yourself in this situation is to make yourself heard so as not to surprise the bear. If confronted, it is best to remain non-threatening. The last resort is to make yourself small, laying on the ground and staying still, playing dead.
Try and maintain a non-intimidating demeanor while you back away slowly in the same direction you came from, as bears will usually only attack if they feel threatened.
“An animal that can kill a moose with its mouth, you must have respect for that type of animal,” Källberg said.
Comments
See Also
How many bears are there in Sweden and where are they?
According to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, there were approximately 2,800 bears in the country in the autumn of 2022. The estimate is based on information from the public - mainly hunters - along with tests that are carried out on bear droppings.
Bears are mainly found north of Dalarna and in Gävleborg, with the highest population of bears found in Jämtland, near the border with Norway.
Are you likely to meet a bear?
“If you’re out in woods where there are a lot of bears for a long time, then you might see one and see tracks, but bears normally keep to themselves,” Martin Källberg, from Swedish hunting magazine Svensk Jakt, told The Local. "They don’t really want to show themselves that much."
Meeting a bear, he said is very uncommon.
“There are very few complications between people and bears. Those that happen are normally when it's a hunting situation, when you have a dog involved or multiple dogs involved, when it's a high-stress situation [for the bear] or, in some rare instances, when bears learn that they can feed off trash cans.”
What should you do if you’re in an area where there are lots of bears?
When out in nature in areas where there could be bears, you should try first of all to make your presence known.
You can do this by making noise as you make your way through the forest or while walking up a mountain, for example by clapping your hands or speaking loudly, but calmly so that any bears in the area know you’re there. If a bear is surprised it is more likely to be aggressive.
“If you sneak in very quietly and come between a female bear and her cubs, then you could have a bad situation,” Källberg said.
“But with these animals, it's very difficult to end up in a situation like that, because they hear and smell far better than you can hear them.”
It’s also important, Källberg added, to make sure that your dog remains close to you if you take it with you out into areas where bears could be present. Dogs can stress or provoke bears, or even lead the bears to you.
Between March 1st and August 20th, your dog must be on a leash in accordance with Swedish law.
Dogs usually pick up a bear’s scent and react to it since they know that it comes from a potent predator.
What if you come into contact with one?
If you come into contact with a bear, it is best not to run away. Bears can run twice as fast as humans, including uphill. They’re also excellent climbers, so climbing a tree is not a great idea either.
The best thing to do if you find yourself in this situation is to make yourself heard so as not to surprise the bear. If confronted, it is best to remain non-threatening. The last resort is to make yourself small, laying on the ground and staying still, playing dead.
Try and maintain a non-intimidating demeanor while you back away slowly in the same direction you came from, as bears will usually only attack if they feel threatened.
“An animal that can kill a moose with its mouth, you must have respect for that type of animal,” Källberg said.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.