The Decentralised Administration of Epirus-Western Macedonia proceeded with the immediate imposing of measures for managing man-bear interractions, due to bear appearances in the two cities.

 

In particular, the Directorate of Forests of Florina was informed by telephone on Tuesday 07-04-2020 for a bear appearance by a resident, who provided all the necessary information about the bear’s raid on Sunday 5th and Monday 6th of April on his farm, located behind the Railway Station of the city of Florina.

According to the complainant, the wild animal killed his chickens and caused damages to plants.

An autopsy in that area was undertaken by the Emergency Response Team of the Regional Unit of Florina, consisting of members of the Directorate of Forests of Florina, the Environmental Organisation “Callisto” and the Hunting Federation “KOMAΘ”. The installment of cameras and a special deterrent device in the area was decided, in order to collect additional information about the behavior of the animal.

As part of the safe and effective implementation of the Operational Plan, daily patrols will be carried out in the wider area of the Railway Station of Florina to ensure a better patrolling, by the Directorate of Forests of Florina and the Hunting Federation “KOMAΘ”.

Furthermore, the same actions were undertaken in the incident of bear appearance in the northern area of Kastoria Lake. The incident took place on 08/04/2020 and was recorded by a resident, causing the immediate mobilisation of the Emergency Response Team of the Regional Unit of Kastoria. The team proceeded with the autopsy and then imposed all the necessary measures for the management of this phenomenon. The Forest Directorate of Kastoria of the Decentralised Administration of Epirus-Western Macedonia will intensify its patrols in the area, in close cooperation with all the agencies and bodies involved in the management of such incidents.

The Decentralised Administration of Epirus-Western Macedonia, due to the seasonal activity of wild animals, especially bears (after the end of hibernation), near residential area and in the context of implementing the management protocol for incidents of man-bear interaction, recommends the adoption of protection measures for addressing any problems due to the abovementioned interaction and the proper management of such incidents.

Residents are kindly requested to be extremely cautious and take all the precautionary measures as presented below, in order to minimise the possibility of bear appearances in residential areas:

 

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

• Waste collection from outdoor areas, squares, yards, as well any other place that could potentially become food source for the bear.
• Avoid disposing wastes outside of bins or during night hours in the areas where bear appearances have already occurred or are bear habitats, so as to have clean bean during night.
• Repair fences or install electric fences where possible, to protect agricultural and livestock capital.
• Adequate lighting around lands, livestock facilities, etc.
• Particular attention should be paid to pet owners and breeders, who will need to secure their animals during night and not leave dead animals exposed.
• Guard flocks and livestock facilities by livestock guarding dogs (shepherd dogs)

In case there is a man-bear encounter

• Do not run,
• Stay still,
• Don’t move against the animal bearing various objects such as stones, branches, etc.
• Move away slowly and sideways in order to leave room for the bear to escape
• Identify yourself by talking calmly so the bear knows you are a human and not a prey animal

In case of bear appearance, please immediately inform Forest Directorates and Forest Offices of the Decentralised Administration of Epirus-Western Macedonia or the local Police Deparments.

 

The photo, as uploaded in alphafm.gr, shows a female bear with her cubs in the northern side of the beach of Kastoria Lake.