Sighting report
In the last few days, during the daily naturalistic monitoring activities, the presence of the Marsican brown bear has been detected again within the territory of the Simbruini Mountains ParkFurther signs of its presence were detected following a reported sighting: the unmistakable tracks in the mud. As previously mentioned, the presence of the species in our territory is nothing new and, in fact, bodes well for the conservation of the Marsican brown bear, as one of the conservation objectives for this relict population is range expansion. We are still awaiting the results of the simultaneous census conducted from July to September across the entire range of the bear population in central Italy, including our protected area. This is of great interest to us, both to verify whether the conservation efforts undertaken in recent years have been successful and because the analyses included biological samples from bears found on the Ernici and Simbruini mountains. The results of the project, promoted by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), will provide us with a minimum estimate of the number of individuals constituting the entire Apennine population.
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Biological samples
The identity of the animal monitored in recent days is not yet known. We will intensify monitoring in the coming days to recover any biological samples. All bear biological samples found in Lazio are sent to ISPRA for genetic testing. Since the Marsican brown bear is a national natural emergency, the Park Authority is paying the utmost attention to the bear's safety, in conjunction with the Regional Monitoring Network, which reports to the Regional Environmental Directorate. It should be noted that most Marsican bears display very secretive and elusive behavior, but some may show curiosity regarding human activity. It is important to note that there are no known cases of aggression by the Marsican brown bear towards humans, but as a wild animal, it is important to maintain appropriate behavior.
How to behave
To avoid any conflict with human activities, for their and our safety, we recommend following these rules, which are valid for all mammal species, including wolves, foxes, and wild boars:
- Avoid leaving food scraps or waste unattended near your home, including bowls full of cat or dog food.
- Avoid leaving food scraps such as organic waste at the end of a picnic to prevent the bear from associating humans with the availability of food.
- Secure apiaries or other small businesses with electric fences or other measures, such as properly locking doors and gates. If the presence of bears is confirmed by the Monitoring Network, the Park Authority may provide electric fences on a temporary loan basis.
- If you spot a bear on paved roads, avoid chasing it by car to film it or out of curiosity, but stop and let it go away.
- In case of close encounters, move away slowly without trying to get closer to take photos or anything else.
- let the bear behave like a bear, a shy and precious wild animal
