The investigation into a possible bear attack on a cyclist in Estonia, who was allegedly knocked off his bicycle by a bear, has been concluded, and the attack has not been confirmed, writes ERR News.
Soon after the alleged attack near the town of Väike-Maarja in Lääne-Viru County, it began to raise doubts, as eyewitness accounts differed. Karmel Ritson, the chief wildlife specialist at the Environmental Board, when asked whether the attack had occurred or was a figment of her imagination, replied that, based on the information collected, it was not possible to confirm physical contact between a human and a bear in Lääne-Viru County, and the investigation was closed.
The first news of the bear attack came almost two months ago, when local resident Raido claimed that on April 10, on the way to the village of Triigi, a few kilometers from Väike-Maarja, the bear not only chased him, but also knocked him off his bicycle. He said that he managed to get away with scratches only because a passing car honked and the bear ran away. Raido told local media that he received scratches and abrasions in the attack, his jacket was torn, and the bear tried to take away a packet of cookies, which had a paw print on it.
A representative of local hunters supported Raido’s story, but it was not enough to convince the Environmental Board, which indicated that there was no evidence of a bear at the scene of the alleged attack, and launched an investigation. Raido was unable to provide any further information, such as the size of the bear. The story got even more bizarre when a passenger in a passing car said that her family had not seen any large animals, nor had the horn been used, and that
they had only found a heavily intoxicated man lying on the side of the road next to his bicycle.
While the incident is certainly amusing, it is also significant in its controversy. Estonian hunting groups have called for increased bear hunting quotas, citing the increasing number of bears and the threat to public safety.
Since the alleged attack, the Ministry of Climate has amended the hunting law so that bear hunting can only take place with a special permit issued by the Environmental Board, which is the opposite of what hunting lobbies have been calling for. The board noted that if all other measures to prevent the disturbance caused by the bear have been implemented, but the bear continues to damage property or endanger domestic animals, or repeatedly enters populated areas without avoiding people, the last resort will be to eliminate the animal. Ritson said that each decision to issue a permit to hunt the animal is carefully weighed, and permits can be issued throughout the year in certain cases. No permits for bear hunting have been issued this year yet.
Ritson noted that encounters with bears are increasingly occurring in and near populated areas, and they are often attracted by easily accessible food, which means that rural residents need to think carefully about food storage and disposal of food waste. The expert said that garden waste should never be simply taken to the forest: “We ask that biowaste be stored in closed composters or sealed compost bins.
Properly installed and electrified fences around beehives are effective in preventing bear damage,
and the Environmental Board will partly reimburse the costs of installing them.”
Estonia’s hunting quota for bears for the 2025-2026 season was just under a hundred individuals.
The latest estimates show that there are currently around 1,000 bears in Estonia, the highest number ever recorded. Although attacks on people are very rare, they do happen. Experts have indicated that the African swine fever, which has reduced the number of wild boars, has played a role in the increase in bear sightings. They are an important source of food for bears and wolves.
To avoid attracting bears, do not leave leftover food near your home or campsite, and make noise when moving through the forest. Loud talking, clapping hands, and breaking dry branches give people a chance to be heard in time, and the bear has a chance to leave the area.
The greatest danger can be if one comes across bear cubs on your way. Then one should immediately retreat in the direction from which they came. One should also not approach the carcasses of fallen animals, as bears aggressively protect their prey.
If a bear has wandered into a farm, one should try to scare it away by shouting loudly and making noise. The animals tend to come near houses in search of easily obtained food. Therefore, although bears are usually active at dusk and at night, in the summer one should also be careful during the day, as they tend to look for ripe berries and stay near oat fields.
Read also: Demand for bear repellent spray soars in Estonia
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