In northern Greece’s mountainous region of Western Macedonia, the increasing population of brown bears has prompted growing tensions between local residents and conservation authorities. Retired furrier Dimitris Despas, 65, who lives in the village of Kleisoura near Kastoria, described recent encounters with bears entering residential areas, damaging property, and consuming fruit from gardens. “The bears have surrounded us,” he said, highlighting the frequency of sightings and the impact on daily life.

A 2025 wildlife survey by Greek authorities recorded around 900 brown bears in the region, nearly double the population documented six years earlier. This growth is attributed to hunting bans and conservation efforts that have allowed bear numbers to recover after decades of decline. However, the growing presence of bears near human settlements has led to increasing complaints from farmers and residents over crop damage, livestock losses, and safety concerns.

In Kastoria prefecture alone, local forestry services received more than 300 reports of bears entering residential neighborhoods between 2025 and mid-2026. Some villagers have expressed fear for their safety following incidents such as an animal injuring a villager and frequent bear sightings in central village squares at dusk. A Facebook group called “Not living with bears,” which counts over 2,000 members in the Kastoria area, has emerged to document encounters and pressure authorities to strengthen measures against bear incursions. Group administrator Dimitris Mitsopoulos emphasized the concerns: “We are in danger,” noting that bears have even been spotted near schools.

The situation escalated in June when three bears were found dead in Western Macedonia within two days. Two had gunshot wounds, while one—a female bear previously rescued and rehabilitated by the wildlife group Arcturos—appeared to have died from ingesting poisoned bait. The deaths raised alarms among conservation groups and highlighted the challenges of balancing wildlife protection with community safety.

In the southern town of Grevena, about 100 kilometers from Kastoria, contractor Lefteris Zioutis has documented over 100 individual bears entering urban areas since early 2025. He noted that the animals have been seen near public buildings such as libraries and cinemas, indicating the bears’ increasing comfort in human-dominated spaces. Zioutis acknowledged the frustrations of local farmers, livestock breeders, and beekeepers who are experiencing damage resulting from the growing bear population.

Conservationists acknowledge the longstanding nature of the conflict. Iason Bantios, spokesperson for the Callisto wildlife group, stressed that appropriate information campaigns, as well as preventive and deterrent measures, can help reduce bear-human encounters. He cautioned against promoting illegal or lethal methods in response to the problem, condemning the recent killings in Western Macedonia.

Arcturos operates a bear sanctuary in Nymfaio on Mount Vitsi, northwest of Athens. The facility cares for around 20 bears, many rescued from captivity or orphaned in the wild. The brown bear’s resurgence in the region reflects natural recolonization of habitats from which the species had disappeared in the 20th century. However, shifts in land use, urbanization, and the decline of traditional farming have diminished natural food sources and reduced human presence, which historically acted as a deterrent to wildlife encroachment.

Alexandros Karamanlidis, director of Arcturos, noted that Greece’s success in protecting wild animal populations imposes new responsibilities to manage human-wildlife interactions effectively. He warned that increasing bear habituation to human food sources could lead to heightened conflicts. “We are heading, with mathematical certainty, towards more unpleasant situations,” Karamanlidis said, underscoring the need for balanced policies to ensure coexistence while safeguarding both community safety and wildlife conservation.