Estonia's growing bear population raises risk of encounters, expert warns

A wildlife expert at Estonia's Environment Agency, Peep Männil, has warned that recent court decisions restricting bear hunting could speed up the growth of the country's brown bear population.

According to agency estimates, Estonia was home to roughly 1,100 brown bears as of fall 2025. The population has grown by an average of 5 percent annually over the past decade, with the pace accelerating in recent years.

Männil explained that bear numbers are estimated through sightings, particularly of females with cubs, rather than direct counts of individual animals. More than 7,000 observations were logged across the country last year, mostly from hunters and wildlife enthusiasts using trail cameras. The agency applies the same method to estimate wolf, lynx and other wildlife populations.

Effects on nature and people

Männil said a growing bear population could lead to more agricultural damage and also affect moose numbers, since bears prey heavily on moose calves during their first weeks of life — a pattern also documented in studies from Sweden.

While the risk to people in Estonia remains relatively low, a larger bear population still raises the likelihood of dangerous encounters. Seven bear attacks on people have been recorded in Estonia over the past 25 years; none were fatal, but three caused injuries, the most recent in 2022. Four of the incidents occurred during hunting situations, after the bear had already been shot.

Männil noted that attacks are generally defensive rather than predatory, typically happening when a person and a bear unexpectedly meet at close range. He encouraged people not to avoid foraging or spending time in nature out of fear, stressing instead that careful wildlife management is key to preventing sharp swings in animal populations.