Residents and livestock farmers in Kato Nevrokopi, northern Greece, are increasingly concerned about frequent bear sightings near villages and livestock facilities, with some farmers reporting severe losses.
Speaking on Wednesday to Greek television program Koinonia Ora MEGA, local deputy mayor Giorgos Savvidis said bears were descending from mountainous areas in search of food. The encounters have become more frequent as the animals prepare for winter hibernation and need to build up energy reserves.
Savvidis attributed the situation to a combination of food shortages in the mountains and a growing bear population, which he linked to mild weather conditions and the absence of natural predators.
Farmers report serious livestock losses
According to Savvidis, large bears are increasingly being seen with their cubs, and some have already caused extensive damage to livestock farms.
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In one particularly serious case, a farmer has lost dozens of animals after a bear repeatedly breached the farm’s fencing. The animal enters the facility almost daily, killing or injuring livestock and frightening other animals into scattering toward the mountains.
Even livestock guardian dogs have been unable to deter the bears, Savvidis said, citing the animals’ considerable size and weight.
Call for environmental groups to intervene
Savvidis emphasized that the bears are wild animals living in their natural environment. He said the municipality lacks both the authority and a specific protocol for managing or feeding them.
He called on environmental organizations, including Arcturos and Callisto, to contact the municipal authorities promptly so they can coordinate a response and find an effective solution that protects both the bears and local communities.