The return of the brown bear to the northwest of Spain is now a documented reality: a new study, published in the journals Quercus and Actualidad Jurídica Ambiental, confirms it.
The analysis compiled 85 records of the species between 2012 and 2025 in areas where the brown bear had been absent for more than 150 years, marking its return.
In particular, the recolonization areas are located in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, in the provinces of León, Zamora, and the border with Galicia.
The researchers verified the information through:
- direct observations;
- tracks;
- camera trapping;
- damage to beehives, and;
- testimonies from locals and environmental agents.
The work was prepared by Carlos Javier Durá Alemañ, a researcher at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in Spain, along with five other specialists.
A species in expansion that needs protection
Spain hosts fewer than 400 brown bears, mainly distributed between the Pyrenees, on the border with France, and the Cantabrian Mountains, in the north of the country. The species is endangered and its conservation is a legal obligation within the framework of the European Union.
“It is important to comply with the EU mandate that the species has a favorable conservation status, and that means it must expand to other areas,” said Durá.
The return of the brown bear to the mountains of northwest Spain suggests that its presence in the region has ceased to be sporadic and has become stable and sustained over time.
The study also points out legal consequences: the presence of the bear requires a review of the Natura 2000 Network, the European system of protected areas.
Furthermore, it requires incorporating habitats where the species was absent for almost two centuries. Therefore, the researchers recommend that regional authorities move in that direction.
The return of the brown bear: what about coexistence with local communities?
The return of the brown bear also opens an opportunity for the rural economies of the region. In this regard, Durá highlighted the model of Somiedo, a region in northern Spain that serves as an example.
This area already functions as a nature tourism destination thanks to the presence of the bear, and he suggested that other areas could follow this path.
“We see it as an opportunity to generate a tourism offer based on the quality of ecosystems and landscapes,” stated the researcher.
Coexistence with traditional activities requires concrete measures. Among the most relevant:
- Installation of electric fences to protect beehives from the bear
- Commercialization of honey with the quality seal of areas visited by the species
- Environmental education for local communities
- Dissemination of action protocols in case of encounters with the animal
Durá emphasized that “the bear does not have a negative impact on other economic sectors.” He also reminded that, in case of an encounter, the recommendation is to stay still and follow the instructions of specialized entities.
The brown bear was on the brink of extinction in the 1970s, when the population dropped to just 40 individuals across Spain. Therefore, its return to these mountains, according to the researchers, “should be a source of pride”.
