Bears In Austria: Are They There?

Bears in Austria? It's complicated. While the country is home to several national parks and wildlife reserves, and its landscape is dominated by mountains, forests, and the Alps, Austria is strictly a migratory country when it comes to bears, according to wildlife biologist Hubert Schatz. That means there are no native bears that always have their habitat in Austrian forests. Instead, they migrate, particularly during the spring months. So, while you might spot a bear in Austria, it's likely just passing through.

Bear sightings in Austria are rare, but they do happen

The brown bear population in Austria is estimated to be small, with only a few dozen bears in the country. They are primarily located in the Lower Austrian and Styrian limestone Alps between Ötscher and Hochschwab and southern Carinthia around Weißensee and the Karawanken. The population is considered to be migratory, with bears moving between Austria and the Dinaric Alps in Slovenia.

While bear sightings are uncommon in Austria compared to other European countries, it is not unheard of for at least one bear to be spotted each year. In spring 2023, for example, a bear was seen in Lechtal, Tyrol, where it left numerous tracks and caused some property damage while searching for food. This particular bear was determined to be a large predator but not a danger to humans.

The Austrian bear population is facing several challenges, including poaching and small founder populations. Conservation efforts are underway, and organisations like WWF Austria are working on strategies to protect these bears. Despite the challenges, there is hope that bears will return to the Austrian Alps.

Austria's bear population is migratory, with no native bears

The Austrian bear population is made up of migrating individuals from the Slovenian population, as well as some males from Trentino in Italy. They are estimated to number between five and eight male brown bears. These bears are found in the Karawanken, Carnic Alps, and Gailtal Alps in Carinthia and East Tyrol in Austria.

The Austrian bear population developed from the specimens released during a reintroduction project and the "Ötscherbär", a single male bear that migrated independently to the area in 1972. This population has been extinct since 2011, according to Christian Pichler from WWF Austria. However, bear sightings continue to be reported in the country, with at least one bear sighted every year.

In spring 2023, for example, a bear was spotted in Lechtal, Tyrol, leaving numerous tracks as it roamed through Austrian mountains and forests. While this bear caused some property damage while looking for food, district hunter Martin Hosp reassured people that this behaviour is normal for a large predator and that there was no indication that the bear posed a danger to humans.

The small population of brown bears in central Austria is carefully monitored by experts. When a bear is sighted, its residues, such as fur hairs, are sent to Vienna for DNA analysis. This helps experts determine whether the bear is male or female and whether it comes from a family with a history of aggression towards humans.

While Austria's bear population is migratory, the country is still home to other large mammals, including red deer, roe deer, lynx, chamois, marmots, and alpine ibex.

Brown bears in Austria are found in the Kalkalpen National Park

Brown bears are found in Austria, though the country is "strictly a migratory country" for these animals, according to wildlife biologist Hubert Schatz. This means that there are no native bears that always have their habitat in Austrian forests. Instead, they migrate, especially during the spring months.

The Kalkalpen National Park is located in Upper Austria within the Northern Limestone Alps. Covering over 20,825 hectares (51,460 acres) of land, it is home to one of the largest forests in Europe. The park contains roughly four-fifths forest, with a mixed forest of spruce, fir, and beech trees dominating. Additionally, there are about 800 springs and over 200 km (124 mi) of streams in the national park area.

The park is also home to around 30 mammal species, including endangered species such as otters, dormice, and several types of bats. While brown bears are not mentioned among the park's attractions, records indicate that they are among the Kalkalpen National Park's mammalian residents.

The Kalkalpen National Park is also a habitat for many bird species that are on the endangered list in Austria, including capercaillies, tree falcons, black grouse, whinchats, kingfishers, gray herons, hawk, hazel grouse, stock doves, short-toed eagles, black storks, golden eagles, sparrowhawks, eagle owls, woodcocks, peregrine falcons, and miniature flycatchers.

The park is also known for its biodiversity of plant species, with over 850 documented species, 102 of which are on the Red List of Endangered Plants in Upper Austria.

There are estimated to be 5-8 male brown bears in Austria

The small population of brown bears in Austria is mostly made up of migrating individuals from the Slovenian population, as well as some males from Trentino, Italy. These bears are typically young males dispersing from the core area of Southern Slovenia towards the Alps. The number of bears that reach the Alps depends on the Slovenian hunting regime and the hunting quotas in place.

The distribution area of the central Austrian bear population is deduced from the sample localities of genetic monitoring, with areas in Slovenia, Italy, and Switzerland, where bears have been recorded, also considered. The core area of the central Austrian bear subpopulation covers approximately 750 km2, with a range of 8,000 km2 in the Limestone Alps of Styria, Lower Austria, and Upper Austria. The valley bottoms lie at 400-600 m, while the mountain ridges reach 2,000-2,500 m. Forest cover in this area is about 65%, and the human population density averages 55 inhabitants per km2.

The Austrian bear population is facing several challenges, including poaching, small founder populations, and unknown causes of high mortality among adolescent bears. Efforts are being made by organisations such as WWF Austria to conserve and protect bears in the country, with a Brown Bear Conservation Strategy currently in development.

Poaching is a reason for the decline in Austria's bear population

Austria is home to a small population of brown bears (Ursus arctos) that migrate through the country, particularly during the spring months. These bears do not have their habitat in Austrian forests but instead wander over from neighbouring countries such as Slovenia and Italy.

The Austrian bear population is in decline, and while the reasons for this are not entirely clear, poaching is believed to be a contributing factor. Other factors include the emigration of young bears and unknown causes of high mortality among adolescent bears.

Brown bears were hunted to extinction in Austria in the late 1800s. By the late 1990s, the population had recovered to around 25-30 bears, but locals were concerned about the potential for conflict between bears and settlements. In 1994, two bears were shot, and in the years since, there have been further instances of bears being killed or captured due to concerns about their proximity to humans.

In recent years, there have been reports of bear attacks in Italy and near the Austrian border, leading to increased fear of bear attacks in Austria. While bear sightings are relatively rare, when they do occur, they are carefully monitored by wildlife experts. The remains of a deer killed by a bear in spring 2023 were discovered by hunters, who emphasised that this was normal behaviour for a large predator.

The Austrian government has implemented various measures to protect both bears and humans, including electric fences to protect property and educational initiatives to raise awareness about bears. A 'rapid response' team has also been established to deal with any problems or potential dangers. However, despite these efforts, the Austrian bear population continues to face threats, including poaching.

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