Bear defense - District administrator wants armed Bavarian brown bear preparedness
The Oberallgäu District Councilwoman Indra Baier-Müller (Free Voters) is calling for the establishment of an armed Bavarian Brown Bear Readiness Unit. This unit should be responsible for preventing and killing bears when necessary, as proposed in a letter to Environment Minister Thorsten Glauber (also Free Voters).
Baier-Müller had founded the Initiative Brown Bear a year ago to network responsible parties in the Alpine regions of Bavaria. In the spring of the previous year, there were numerous bear sightings in Southern Bavaria.
The animals are likely to be wandering from Northern Italy and passing through Austria, occasionally entering the Free State. In the Italian province of Trentino, there are now approximately 100 brown bears due to a reintroduction project.
A few weeks ago, representatives of the districts of Ostallgäu, Traunstein, and Rosenheim met in Sonthofen at the invitation of Baier-Müller. The local politicians demanded a legislative change in the protection status of brown bears.
The authorities on site should be able to react more quickly in case of bear migration and, if necessary, potentially dangerous animals should be able to be shot. Baier-Müller emphasized at the meeting that it was not about shy bears that keep their distance from humans.
The 17-year-old brown bear management plan should be urgently revised
Baier-Müller is now advocating for the urgent revision of the 2007 Bavarian Brown Bear Management Plan. The year before, the bear Bruno was shot in the Free State. This bear was classified as a problem bear, which poses a danger to the population, by the authorities.
The Landraetin also called for support in informing the population as well as tourists. She suggested lectures, brochures, and educational films for tourists.
Furthermore, it must be clarified how bear-proof waste disposal can be introduced and financed in the affected regions. In bear regions such as, for example, Canada, there have been specialized dumpsters that are specifically locked to prevent bears from being attracted to populated areas for decades.
The proposed Bavarian Brown Bear Readiness Unit could potentially be beneficial during the spring, a time when bear sightings are more common in Southern Bavaria. This issue isn't exclusive to Bavaria; brown bears are also migrating from Northern Italy and passing through Austria.
Thorsten Glauber, the Environment Minister and a Free Voter, will need to consider Baier-Müller's call for the revision of the 2007 Bavarian Brown Bear Management Plan. The urgent need for revision was highlighted after a problem bear in the Free State, Bruno, was shot the previous year.
Sonthofen, a town in Bavaria, was the venue for a meeting of local politicians from Ostallgäu, Traunstein, and Rosenheim. At this meeting, they advocated for a legislative change in the protection status of brown bears.
Tourists visiting areas with brown bear sightings should be informed properly, suggesting lectures, brochures, and educational films could be an effective way to do this, as per Baier-Müller's suggestion.
The introduction and financing of bear-proof waste disposal systems are crucial in affected regions. These waste disposal systems have been successfully used in bear regions like Canada for decades to prevent bears from being attracted to populated areas.
Despite the need for action, it's important to remember that the goal isn't to harm shy bears that keep their distance from humans, but rather to ensure the safety of the population and wildlife.
