Just a few years ago, few people could boast of having seen a bear in the wild; at most, a footprint or some scat. Nowadays, brown bears are regularly sighted in the Asturian mountains because their population has tripled in recent decades.
Trekking 5 days in Somiedo
Five intense days, with accommodation included, to explore the main attractions, peaks, lakes, and mountain pastures of this natural park… Read more
Can we see bears?
The chances of seeing a bear are nil without the accompaniment of qualified guides with precise knowledge of the territory and the behavior of the bears. Venturing into the Asturian mountains on your own is not only a waste of time but also reckless, as the bears may feel threatened by human presence and react violently. Furthermore, disturbing or harassing them is strictly prohibited and punishable by law. They live in protected reserves, some of which are off-limits and others have restricted access. The preservation of these natural spaces has been essential for the reproduction of the bears.
Even so, we can see them. We must follow some basic rules and be patient. First, hire the services of professionals. They will tell us whether the conditions are favorable or not and will guide us to the most suitable viewpoints or observatories. A sighting is never guaranteed . Don't despair. If necessary, we will have to visit these places for more than a day or two. We are more than a kilometer away. From the observatories, with our telescopes and/or binoculars, we will scan the hillsides and forest clearings where they hide.
When to see bears in Asturias?
The best time to do it is spring (April-May), because when the heat is intense they rarely come out of the forest, and late summer-early autumn (late August, September, October).
If we haven't been lucky with the bears, we'll be lucky for other reasons. We'll feel the excitement and magic of nature, and understand the immeasurable value of protected areas, scanning every corner with our cameras. The bears coexist with other species characteristic of European deciduous forests in general and Iberian fauna in particular: birds of prey, deer, wild boar, chamois, wildcats, foxes, and wolves.
Who takes us to see bears?
Wildlife sighting companies They facilitate transport and a guide interpreter of the natural environment.
Almost the entire Cantabrian Mountain Range is protected due to the natural value of the spaces it houses, where species of mammals and birds that are representative of European deciduous forests live. On the coast, the wetlands, cliffs, or islets are a refuge for birds and mustelids. In the waters of the Cantabrian Sea, the Kraken lives with different species of cetaceans and many other seabirds.
We will bring comfortable shoes, a hat or cap, sunscreen, a raincoat, a change of clothes, water, food, and a spotting scope or binoculars.
In what areas do brown bears live? Where can we see them?
Adult female bears with cubs and large males are sighted every year in the mountains of Teverga, Somiedo, Cangas del Narcea, Degaña, and Ibias ; territories crisscrossed by large expanses of native forest and characterized by an excellent state of conservation. This is the southwestern area of Asturias with the highest concentration of bears in the entire Cantabrian Mountains.
The gradual recovery of the species in Asturias seems to put an end to a tragic story. King Favila, son of Don Pelayo, was killed by a bear in the year 739. At that time they were very abundant and killing them was a way of showing value to the subjects. For centuries it was the greatest hunting trophy. Once their hunting was prohibited, poaching reduced the population for decades. In 1962 there were 77 bears in Asturias.
The fact that the population has reached two hundred individuals—thanks to decades of conservation policies—is not synonymous with long-term survival. For this to become a reality and for the danger of extinction to be completely averted, it would be necessary to reach 500 breeding individuals . Researchers estimate that in a bear population, only a quarter are capable of reproducing. Therefore, the Cantabrian brown bear will only be truly safe when it numbers at least 2.000 individuals.
The challenge for the coming years is identifying and improving the migration corridors used by male bears between western and eastern Asturias. The eastern Asturian bear population has stagnated for years, with no more than 30 individuals; the same number as when the species recovery programs began in 1989. The Asturian Bear Foundation once proposed relocating bears to achieve artificial breeding and promote the recovery of the eastern subgroup. This idea was rejected by the authorities. The bear population in central Asturias does appear to be growing, which would facilitate a future migratory corridor. The Fund for the Protection of Wild Animals (FAPAS) has already identified nearly 30 bears in the municipalities of Santo Adriano, Proaza, and Teverga . The population growth in this connecting area has been remarkable since a female bear with cubs was first sighted in 2004.
Protectionist measures are increasing in search of long-term survival. Since the year 2005, FAPAS has been developing the "Fruits for the Bear" project. A commitment to increase the amount of fruit trees, cherry trees and chestnut trees in the areas of bone presence.
How do bears live? What do bears eat in Asturias?
Their ideal habitat is the mixed forest, composed of beech, oak, and birch trees, heather, broom, and bilberry . Steep, rugged slopes are particularly favored by female bears with cubs, who move away from males during the mating season to protect their young. Sometimes, males kill cubs they don't recognize as their own to ensure their genetic lineage prevails. Female bears defend themselves in their own way, allowing themselves to be mated by as many males as possible so that each can claim paternity of the cubs. The mating season is in May or June.
They eat young leaves and shoots and scavenge for tubers, roots, and insects.
What kind of bear is there in Spain?
The Cantabrian brown bear is a robust animal with short, rounded ears, a short tail, and a very thick, abundant coat. It is agile and can gallop at great speed. They come in a variety of colors, but the most common is yellowish-brown . Males can weigh over 180 kg . Cubs are born during hibernation, helpless, with little fur, and without teeth . The variety of coat colors facilitates population censuses. The characteristics of the mother, combined with those of the offspring, help to distinguish one family group from another.
Females are territorial and easily associated with specific locations. Adult males are much more exploratory. They are nocturnal and can travel dozens of kilometers in a single night in search of food.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
