Estonia's bear population keeps growing as hunters warn of rising risks
Estonia's bear population continues to rise while court rulings have made traditional bear hunting increasingly difficult, with bears more often appearing in residential yards. Authorities have permitted the culling of two young bears that repeatedly returned to inhabited areas.
The bear population in Estonia's forests continues to grow, and hunters say court rulings in recent years have made traditional bear hunting considerably harder. At the same time, bears are increasingly being spotted in residential yards, raising concerns about potential conflicts between people and wildlife.
The Environmental Board recently issued a special permit to cull two bears born last year after they repeatedly returned to inhabited areas despite several attempts to scare them off.
Old hunting system no longer works
An expert from the Estonian Environment Agency explains that unlike other hunted species, where hunting quotas are set based on population counts, this approach no longer works for bears. Disputes over bear hunting have ended up in court, as judges assess whether authorities have sufficiently justified the need to hunt the animals and whether other preventive measures were tried first.
Experts say at least 150 bears would need to be culled per season to halt population growth. Last year only about 32 bears were hunted, while in 2024, before restrictions tightened, the figure was 101.
Population estimates vary
Last year the Environment Agency estimated at least 1,100 wild bears in Estonia, with the population growing by roughly 5% annually over the past decade. This year's figures have not yet been compiled, but the population has likely increased further.
A representative of the Estonian Hunters' Society believes the real number could be closer to 1,500, since around 300 bear cubs are born each year, and hunting has been significantly reduced over the past two seasons.
When bears repeatedly enter yards, authorities first try to scare them away, but issue culling permits when the animals pose a persistent threat. Debate continues in Estonia over how to balance protecting this strictly protected species with the need to control its growing numbers.
