Bears increasingly venture into settlements in Bulgaria's Pirin, Rila mountains

Bear encounters in settlements around the Pirin and Rila mountains in Bulgaria are becoming increasingly frequent. In just one hour, a bear entered a restaurant with guest accommodation three times, causing substantial property damage. The establishment is located in a wooded area above the village of Dolna Gradeshnitsa, in the Kresna municipality.

The incident frightened the owners of the tourist facility, which also had guests staying there at the time, BNR correspondent in Blagoevgrad Keti Trencheva reported. The owner has filed a report with Kresna Municipality and the local state forestry unit.

A few days ago, a bear was spotted roaming the streets near the stadium in Blagoevgrad. Similar incidents, involving wild animals venturing dangerously close to urbanised areas, have also been reported in Sandanski and Yakoruda.

The main reason behind the increased presence of bears in populated areas is the growth in the population of this wild species, Blagoy Milev, director of the Southwestern State Enterprise, told BNR.

Edited by Miglena Ivanova