Bears in Europe: Which Bears Can You See and Where?
Europe is not known for its large animals, rather its culture and history. But, behind the sparkling towns and centuries of human industry, the wild world still ticks on as it has done for millennia. But how wild is that world? Today we cover bears in Europe, and whether or not these massive mammals are still out there.
Are There Bears in Europe?
There are two species of bear that live in Europe. The most populous bear in Europe is also the most widely distributed. The bear is a native animal of Europe. The European brown bear (or Eurasian brown bear) can be found all over Europe. Europe is also home to polar bears, although they are not permanent residents.
Polar bears will visit some areas of the arctic that reach down into Europe, specifically Norway and Greenland. They come down during the summer months as their prey moves further south. By contrast, the brown bear is a native animal of Europe and stays within its European range all year round.
How Many Bears Are There in Europe?
There is estimated to be 22,000 wild bears living in Europe. This population is made up of around 17,000 brown bears living across the continent, and 3,000 polar bears that visit the Norwegian island archipelago of Svalbard, as well as further 2,000 that frequent Greenland.
Where Can You Find Bears in Europe?
For polar bears, there are only two countries you’ll find these bears in Europe:
Greenland
Norway
Even though Sweden and Finland also have territory within the arctic circle, you won’t find polar bears here. This is actually because polar bears do not visit mainland Norway, and instead go to the more northerly islands of Svalbard. Polar bears do visit mainland Greenland, the simple reason being that its northern borders are much closer to the north pole, and thus polar bear country.
Brown bears are comparatively much easier bears to see in Europe. They can be located in a wealth of European nations. There are large numbers and wide ranges of brown bears in:
Finland
Romania
Sweden
Estonia
Bulgaria
Other countries you might be surprised to learn have bears in Europe are:
Spain
Italy
France
It should be noted that populations in these countries are unsurprisingly small and often difficult to locate. Overall, if you’re looking for bears in Europe, you’ll actually find them in 22 countries across the continent, right the way from the most northerly point to nations bordering the Middle East and the Mediterranean Sea.
Bears in Europe are everywhere.
Where Are The Best Places to See Bears in Europe?
With 24 potential locations for spotting bears in Europe, there’s a lot of opportunity for encountering these giants. But just because you can see bears in all these places, that doesn’t mean you should aim to find them. Some of these countries have very small and vulnerable bear populations, while others offer bear viewing only in the most remote and inaccessible places -- not great for wildlife holidays in Europe!
As with all things in life, when you have a variety of choices at your disposal, some are going to be better than others. So where are the best places to see bears in Europe?
Finland - The low Lakeland areas of southern Finland are definitely the best places to see bears in Europe. They combine serene natural beauty with thousands of bears. During the summer months, the Lakelands see high numbers of bears congregating to forage and breed. An amazing location to experience, Finland is a land built for bears.
Romania - Home to over 7000, Romania has the largest bear population in Europe. The reason it’s not our top pick over Finland is that bears stay more spread out, and the Romanian wilderness is a little more inaccessible than the Finnish lake district. Still, with thousands of bears, as well as other animals like wolves and a very rustic and snow-dusted ascetic, looking for bears in Romania is still more than worth your time.
Estonia - With stunning woodlands and the highest density of bears anywhere in Europe, Estonia might not be the most well-known European travel destination, but with 700 bears found within a very small patch of country, if you’re looking to spot bears in Europe, Estonia is one of your best bets.
Norway - Svalbard is not the easiest place to get, but if you don’t mind a few connecting flights you’ll find yourself in true arctic wilderness. One of the wildest and most exciting travel locations on Earth, Svalbard is also the best place in the world to view polar bears.
