Bear Damages Rabbit Hutch and Chicken Coop in Valka Municipality

A brown bear paid an unexpected visit to two farmyards in Valka municipality this week, causing damage to livestock enclosures before being scared off. The incident occurred in Kārķi parish, where the bear broke a rabbit hutch and a chicken coop.

According to the newspaper “Ziemeļlatvija”, eyewitness Ausma Soka said she and her husband spotted the bear at 7:30 AM. Initially, nothing was visible, but their dog started barking loudly. When the husband ran outside, the bear was already near the rabbit hutch. He shouted loudly, which made the bear retreat towards a neighboring property.

“It was the first time in our lives we saw a brown bear so close – right in our yard,” Soka said. The rabbit hutch was badly damaged, and the chickens were so frightened they hid in the bushes. The family reported the incident to the police and warned their neighbor.

Later that day, the bear indeed visited the neighbor’s farm. The previous week, a bear was also spotted in Bilskas parish, Smiltene municipality.