A total of 25 confirmed cases of bear attacks on agricultural property in the Smolyan region since the beginning of the year, announced the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water - Smolyan.
The owners of the attacked herds and agricultural sites have been compensated for the damage caused.
Bear attacks in the mountainous region usually become more active in late winter and early spring, explain the forest departments in Slaveyno and Borino, where the most damage was found.
The attacks on the territory of the State Forestry (SFS) - Slaveyno are eight, and the victims of the protected predator were five cows, two calves and two sheep. We are talking about several bear traps that have been roaming for years in the area of the villages of Galabovo and Slivka in the Banite municipality, Eng. Todor Vassilev, director of the State Forest Service – Slaveyno, told BTA.
According to him, the expansion of the bear's territory is a natural consequence of the depopulation of the mountainous area. The appearance of bear traps in the territory of the Borino municipality is mainly near the villages of Yagodovo and Buynovo. The damage is mainly caused by attacked free-grazing animals outside populated areas.
Inspections by the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water (RIOSV) – Smolyan have confirmed damage from a brown bear on the territory of the forestry departments in Trigrad, Smilyan, Shiroka Laka, Mihalkovo and the hunting farm “Izvora“.
The eco-inspection reminds farmers not to leave animals grazing without dogs and shepherds, and that the herds should spend the night in massive farm buildings, provided with electric fences, noise and light repellents.