# Bears in Brașov: Where They're Seen, Safety and Ethical Bear Watching

> Are there bears in Brașov? Where they are seen, what to do if you meet one, hide tours compared and the Libearty sanctuary as an ethical alternative.

- Original page: https://wowbrasov.com/en/bears-in-brasov
- Language: en
- Author: Diana
- Last updated: 2026-10-16
- Facts checked: 2026-10-16

## Key facts

- **Price:** Hide trips 60–70 EUR per person (Absolute Carpathian 60 or 70 EUR, eTours 325 lei or 60 EUR, Romanian Friend 70 EUR) (checked 2026-10-16; source: https://absolute-nature.ro/bear-brasov-transylvania-romania/)
- **Time needed:** 3.5 to 5 hours for a hide trip, with at least 1 hour in the hide (checked 2026-10-16; source: https://absolute-nature.ro/bear-brasov-transylvania-romania/)
- **Best time:** April to November for hide trips, late afternoon to dusk; Absolute Carpathian does not run them on Sundays (checked 2026-10-16; source: https://absolute-nature.ro/bear-brasov-transylvania-romania/)
- **Booking:** Absolute Carpathian: shared trips, at least 2 paying guests, transfer from Brașov not included (checked 2026-10-16; source: https://absolute-nature.ro/bear-brasov-transylvania-romania/)
- **Feeding bears:** Banned in any form since 17 November 2025; fine of 10,000 to 30,000 lei (checked 2026-10-16; source: https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/FormaPrintabila/00000G0MKNQXSJTHZPN29LZCWK3JAFWE)
- **If you see a bear:** Don't approach, photograph or feed it, and call 112 straight away (Gendarmerie advice) (checked 2026-10-16; source: https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/nu-mai-putin-de-37-de-turisti-polonezi-coborati-de-pe-munte-sub-escorta-jandarmilor-dupa-intalnirea-cu-o-ursoaica-si-puiul-ei-3847833)
- **Bears in the city:** 13 bears removed in Brașov municipality from January to 13 August 2026 (Biz Brașov count) (checked 2026-10-16; source: https://adevarul.ro/stiri-locale/brasov/urs-impuscat-in-poiana-brasov-dupa-ce-a-incercat-2549704.html)
- **Libearty sanctuary:** Guided tours Tuesday to Sunday at 09:45 and 11:00; adults 95 lei (Tue–Fri) or 100 lei (weekends); no children under 5 (checked 2026-10-16; source: https://millionsoffriends.org/en/amp-libearty/plan-your-visit/)

Yes, bears live around Brașov, and in 2026 they came into streets at the forest edge more often than before; Old Town visitors rarely meet one. Don't approach, photograph or feed a bear (fine: 10,000 to 30,000 lei) and call 112. To see one on purpose, book a hide trip (60–70 EUR) or visit the Libearty sanctuary (95 lei).

## Where bears are seen in and around Brașov

In 2026 Răcădău, Valea Cetății, Noua, Tâmpa and Poiana Brașov all had reports of bears in streets at the forest edge, and in December 2025 one was filmed behind the Coresi mall. None of the Brașov incidents cited below involved an injury in the press reports.

Brașov sits against forested mountains, and the [Environment Ministry's December 2025 report on bear management zones](https://mmediu.ro/storage/2025/12/Raportul-sintetic-al-studiului-privind-zonarea-managementului-speciei-urs-brun.pdf) describes particularly high local densities in the Brașov–Prahova Valley area, which covers the Bucegi, Postăvaru, Piatra Mare and Baiu massifs. It estimates 50–60 bears per 10,000 hectares of habitat, a 2016 figure that includes bears used to people. The reports below are the ones local and national press covered over the past year.

| Where | What was reported | When | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tâmpa, Panoramic restaurant | A bear came to the restaurant at the top for household waste that could not be collected after the Forest Guard blocked the service road from Răcădău. The operator said bears endanger staff and visitors. No injuries reported. | Night of 6–7 May 2026 | [Biz Brașov](https://bizbrasov.ro/2026/05/07/video-ursi-tampa-panoramic-gunoi-adunat/) |
| Tâmpa, Brașov Marathon route | A weak, dehydrated cub that would not leave the route was captured and handed to the Libearty sanctuary. City Hall said its mother had apparently abandoned it. | Reported 30 May 2026 | [Monitorul Expres](https://www.monitorulexpres.ro/2026/05/30/ursulet-capturat-pe-tampa/) |
| Răcădău and Strada Jepilor | A RO-Alert covered Strada Molidului. A bear on Strada Jepilor that ignored sound and light deterrents was shot, and in early July the city team shot an 11-year-old female that ignored repeated deterrence, while a mother with three cubs retreated. | May and July 2026 | [Brașov Romania](https://brasovromania.net/2026/05/video-urs-filmat-in-viteza-pe-o-strada-din-brasov-alt/), [G4Media](https://www.g4media.ro/numar-record-de-apeluri-la-112-in-brasov-privind-ursii-in-ultima-noapte-inca-unul-a-fost-impuscat.html), [Brașov.net](https://www.brasov.net/municipalitatea-brasov-continua-curatenia-pe-strada-jepilor-un-nou-urs-impuscat-pentru-protejarea-cetatenilor/) |
| Valea Cetății (Strada Mureșului, Strada Carpaților) | A bear that had been caught, ear-tagged and relocated before came back and entered the neighbourhood almost daily for three weeks, raiding bins. The city team removed it. | 18 June 2026 | [HotNews](https://hotnews.ro/un-urs-care-facea-atat-de-multe-probleme-intr-un-cartier-din-brasov-a-fost-impuscat-2278084) |
| Noua | A female of about 4 years was caught in a trap cage. She had been captured and relocated before and wore a tag, and was euthanised "under legal provisions", the deputy mayor said. | 27 May 2026 | [Newsweek România](https://newsweek.ro/actualitate/un-urs-care-obisnuia-sa-intre-in-zonele-locuite-din-brasov-a-fost-capturat-si-eutanasiat-de-autoritati) |
| Near the centre | A bear was filmed running along a pavement near the Forestry Faculty, under 10 minutes' walk from Piața Sfatului. | 13 May 2026 | [HotNews](https://hotnews.ro/video-urs-filmat-in-brasov-la-cateva-strazi-distanta-de-centrul-orasului-2244342) |
| Stupini | A bear was filmed walking along a street, and two people ran from it. | Reported 11 July 2026 | [Biz Brașov](https://bizbrasov.ro/2026/07/11/urs-strazi-cartier-brasov-persoane/) |
| Coresi and Triaj | A bear of nearly two years old was filmed at Coresi mall on the evening of 1 December. RO-Alerts went out for Henri Coandă and Narciselor streets and the Sânpetru area. Teams found no bear at the mall, and the deputy mayor said the area was being monitored. | 1–2 December 2025 | [TVR Info](https://tvrinfo.ro/alerta-in-brasov-dupa-ce-un-urs-a-ajuns-la-mall-mesaje-ro-alert-emise-pentru-localnici-animalul-nu-a-fost-inca-prins/), [Brașov Romania](https://brasovromania.net/2025/12/video-brasov-urs-filmat-la-mall-ul-coresi-am-primit-aseara-alerta-ca-e-un-urs-prin-spatele-mallului-coresi/) |
| Poiana Brașov | A bear entered a hotel at night and staff kept watch over the guests, with no injuries reported. In August a 9-year-old male that kept trying to enter a hotel complex's outbuildings was shot. | 22–23 May and 12–13 August 2026 | [Digi24](https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/social/panica-in-poiana-brasov-un-urs-a-intrat-intr-un-hotel-la-112-i-s-a-spus-ca-nu-este-o-urgenta-3783519), [Adevărul](https://adevarul.ro/stiri-locale/brasov/urs-impuscat-in-poiana-brasov-dupa-ce-a-incercat-2549704.html) |

*Mount Tâmpa above the Old Town. In May 2026 a bear was reported at the restaurant at the top.*

City Hall's response follows a ladder: its intervention team first tries to scare a bear back to the forest, then tranquilises and relocates it, and in 2026 it also shot bears that kept coming back or would not leave.

Officials quoted by [G4Media, citing Agerpres](https://www.g4media.ro/numar-record-de-apeluri-la-112-in-brasov-privind-ursii-in-ultima-noapte-inca-unul-a-fost-impuscat.html) said in late May 2026 that about 110 bears live in the forests around Brașov and that more than 120 calls about bears reached 112 that month. By 13 August 2026 a local outlet counted 13 bears removed in the municipality since January, according to [Adevărul, citing Biz Brașov](https://adevarul.ro/stiri-locale/brasov/urs-impuscat-in-poiana-brasov-dupa-ce-a-incercat-2549704.html).

## How worried should you be?

If you stay in the Old Town, Șchei and the main streets, you are unlikely to meet a bear, though the closest report above was under 10 minutes' walk from Piața Sfatului. The pattern in the reports is the same each time: a bear goes where the food is, such as bins, waste platforms and food left out for stray cats, and gets used to people.

The government's own definition of a "habituated bear" in [OUG 60/2025](https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/FormaPrintabila/00000G0MKNQXSJTHZPN29LZCWK3JAFWE) is exactly that: one that, after repeated uncontrolled contact with people and regular access to human food, has lost its natural avoidance of humans.

That makes your own behaviour the main risk factor: feeding a bear, leaving food out, walking up to one for a photo, or hiking alone at dusk. Specialists from Salvamont and WWF quoted by [Brașov.net, 5 May 2026](https://www.brasov.net/val-de-apeluri-la-112-dupa-aparitia-ursilor-in-zonele-locuite-din-brasov-cum-sa-reactionezi-cand-ursul-apare-pe-strada-ta-sau-pe-traseul-montan/) advise avoiding dawn, dusk and night on mountain trails.

Salvamont România's president said in June 2026 that bears and vipers are coming down to tourist paths more often, according to [Agerpres](https://agerpres.ro/social/2026/06/08/salvamont-romania-recomandari-de-vara-pentru-turisti-ursii-si-viperele-coboara-tot-mai-des-in-poteci--1564026). Bears are a reason to be careful in Brașov, not a reason to skip it.

## What to do if you see a bear

*“Caution! Area frequented by bears”: a warning sign on a forest path in Bușteni, in the Prahova Valley.*

The advice below comes from the Gendarmerie, Salvamont Brașov, Brașov City Hall and the road authority CNAIR. Where a point comes from a non-official source, we say so.

### In town: a street, car park or neighbourhood

- **Keep your distance and don't approach.** After mountain gendarmes escorted 37 tourists down a trail in Suceava county, the Gendarmerie told people who see a bear not to approach it, photograph it or feed it ([Digi24, July 2026](https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/nu-mai-putin-de-37-de-turisti-polonezi-coborati-de-pe-munte-sub-escorta-jandarmilor-dupa-intalnirea-cu-o-ursoaica-si-puiul-ei-3847833)). Brașov City Hall asks residents the same: avoid contact with wildlife for photos or videos ([Brașov.net, July 2026](https://www.brasov.net/municipalitatea-brasov-continua-curatenia-pe-strada-jepilor-un-nou-urs-impuscat-pentru-protejarea-cetatenilor/)).
- **Call 112 at once.** Both the Gendarmerie and City Hall ask people to report every sighting through the emergency number rather than deal with it themselves.
- **If you get a RO-Alert,** read it and follow it. A RO-Alert for Strada Molidului in Răcădău on 31 May 2026 told residents to keep their distance, not to photograph or feed the bear, to stay away from the area and to stay indoors until the teams intervened ([Brașov Romania](https://brasovromania.net/2026/05/video-urs-filmat-in-viteza-pe-o-strada-din-brasov-alt/)). A 2021 message from ISU Brașov, the county emergency service, said the same: don't approach or feed it, and avoid the area unless you must be there ([Antena 3](https://www.antena3.ro/actualitate/locale/mesaj-ro-alert-urs-isu-brasov-614581.html)).
- **Don't leave food out.** See the bins section below.

### On a trail

Salvamont Brașov's advice for a face-to-face meeting, published after it said that over 90% of callers did not know how to react, according to [Capital, 16 July 2024](https://www.capital.ro/salvamont-brasov-reguli-intalnire-urs-padure.html):

1. Stay calm and don't panic.
2. Don't run. Bears run faster than people, and running can trigger the hunting instinct.
3. Speak in a calm, firm voice so the bear knows you are human.
4. Avoid direct eye contact, which a bear can take as a threat.
5. Step back slowly, without turning your back on the bear.

Bear spray, if you carry it, is a last resort. Salvamont Brașov added in July 2025, according to [G4Media](https://www.g4media.ro/salvamont-brasov-ursoaica-cu-doi-pui-pe-traseul-banda-galbena-cabana-malaiesti-padina-crucii.html), that a narrow path may limit its effectiveness. Salvamont also recommends installing the Apel 112 app, which lets rescue teams locate you quickly.

To avoid the meeting in the first place, the same Salvamont warnings say: don't walk alone, go in a compact group, make steady noise by talking or using trekking poles, stay on the marked trail and don't interact with animals. Don't shout or set off firecrackers, which can alarm cubs.

Brașov.net, quoting Salvamont and WWF specialists, adds that a cub means the mother is probably close and you should leave the area, and that dogs should be kept on a lead. A cub in your path is a reason to turn back, not to take a photo.

If a bear actually attacks, the InfoCons consumer-protection campaign, which is not an official body, advises lying face down with your hands over your head and staying still, as set out in its [campaign guide, 2024](https://fiiunexemplu.ro/campania-un-urs-hranit-e-un-urs-mort/).

### In a car or on the road

CNAIR, the national road company, reminded drivers in June 2026 that bears are constantly near the Transfăgărășan road: don't approach them, don't feed them and tell the authorities immediately, according to [CNAIR](https://www.cnadnr.ro/ro/comunicare/comunicate-de-presa/interes-general/s-redeschis-circula%C8%9Bia-rutier%C4%83-pe-transf%C4%83g%C4%83r%C4%83%C8%99an-dn). The InfoCons guide adds that if you photograph a roadside bear, do it from the car, from a distance and without flash.

In August 2026 Reuters counted at least 20 bears approaching motorists who had stopped to feed them and take selfies in about three hours on the Transfăgărășan, despite signs warning of fines, as [Reuters via The Star](https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2026/08/01/romania-expands-bear-cull-critics-say-enforcement-gaps-persist) reported. Our [Transfăgărășan guide](https://wowbrasov.com/en/transfagarasan-from-brasov) covers that road.

## Don't feed bears: the law and the bins

**The law.** Emergency Ordinance 60/2025, adopted on 6 November 2025 and published in the Official Gazette no. 1035 on 7 November, added a ban on "feeding in any form" bears in the wild to the hunting law, with a fine of 10,000 to 30,000 lei. That article took effect 10 days after publication, so from 17 November 2025; see the [ordinance text](https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/FormaPrintabila/00000G0MKNQXSJTHZPN29LZCWK3JAFWE) and the [Ministry of Environment](https://mmediu.ro/en/comunicare/comunicate-de-presa/noi-masuri-pentru-protejarea-oamenilor-si-gestionarea-responsabila-a-ursilor-din-localitati/).

At the government briefing the environment minister said the offence requires intent: someone who deliberately feeds bears, not a game manager whose food for deer or boar is eaten by a bear, according to the [Government of Romania](https://gov.ro/ro/guvernul/sedinte-guvern/briefing-sustinut-la-finalul-edintei-de-guvern-de-ministrul-mediului-apelor-i-padurilor-diana-buzoianu-i-de-purtatorul-de-cuvant-al-guvernului-ioana-dogioiu). Parliament's law approving the ordinance was signed by the president in May 2026, as [Alba24](https://alba24.ro/legea-privind-interventia-imediata-pentru-prevenirea-atacurilor-de-ursi-a-fost-promulgata-1137493.html) reported.

**The bins.** On 1 October 2026 Brașov's deputy mayor Dan Ghiță asked residents to stop leaving food for stray animals next to waste platforms, because bears eat it. The City Hall also asks people to use only eco-islands or closed containers, houses not to leave bins at the gate overnight, and the waste operators to collect more often in neighbourhoods bordering the forest, according to [G4Media](https://www.g4media.ro/hranesti-pisica-si-vine-ursul-apelul-primariei-brasov-catre-cetateni-nu-mai-lasati-hrana-pentru-animale-la-platformele-de-gunoi-vin-ursii.html) and [Biz Brașov](https://bizbrasov.ro/2026/10/01/intentii-ursi-brasov-mancare-pisici/).

Eco-România, the Romanian ecotourism association, argues for [bear-proof bins that are emptied daily](https://www.eco-romania.ro/noutati-blog/ursul-nu-e-o-problema-de-aritmetica/). As a visitor in a guesthouse or apartment near the forest, put rubbish only in closed containers and never leave food outside. Salvamont also tells campers not to leave food or scraps at the campsite.

## Hiking near Brașov with bears in mind

All of the advice above applies on the trails around Brașov. Here is what is known about each area.

| Area | What the sources say | Practical points |
|---|---|---|
| **Tâmpa** (Serpentine Road, Gabony Steps) | Short trails that start about 10 minutes from Piața Sfatului. A bear was reported at the Panoramic restaurant at the top in May 2026, and a cub on the marathon route that month. | Walk in daylight, stay on the marked path (it is a nature reserve), keep food packed and don't approach any animal near the restaurant. See our [Tâmpa guide](https://wowbrasov.com/en/tampa-cable-car-brasov). |
| **Postăvarul** (from Poiana Brașov) | The Ministry's study counted 24 individual bears in 2020 and 22 in 2021 on camera traps covering 12.88 km² of the Postăvarul Natura 2000 site, a density of about 1.7–1.9 bears per km² ([Ministry of Environment](https://mmediu.ro/storage/2025/12/Raportul-sintetic-al-studiului-privind-zonarea-managementului-speciei-urs-brun.pdf)). Hotels in Poiana had bear visits in 2026. | Go in a group, talk as you walk and avoid dawn and dusk. See our [Poiana Brașov guide](https://wowbrasov.com/en/poiana-brasov-guide). |
| **Piatra Mare** | In January 2026 Salvamont Săcele reported a young bear on the Blue Triangle trail in Prăpastia Urșilor (the Bears' Gorge). It looked up to about 2 years old and not aggressive, but Salvamont said wild animals' reactions can never be predicted. | Salvamont's advice for that trail: go only in large groups and make noise ([Biz Brașov](https://bizbrasov.ro/2026/01/05/in-piatra-mare/)). |
| **Piatra Craiului and Zărnești Gorge** | Our guide to the gorge treats the massif as brown-bear country. | Walk in daylight, preferably in a group, and keep food packed. See our [Zărnești Gorge guide](https://wowbrasov.com/en/zarnesti-gorge-piatra-craiului). |

*The Zărnești Gorge in Piatra Craiului, bear country: talk as you walk so animals hear you coming.*

A short checklist before any walk:

- Go with other people, in daylight, and keep talking.
- Keep food sealed and take all rubbish with you.
- Stay on marked trails, and keep dogs on a lead.
- Install the Apel 112 app before you set off.
- Read the recommendations section of Salvamont's website before long walks; Salvamont România's president points hikers to it.

## Ethical bear watching

If you want to see a bear on purpose, two kinds of place exist near Brașov: hides in the forest, where wild bears come to a clearing, and the Libearty sanctuary in Zărnești, where rescued bears live in large enclosures. They are very different experiences, and the first raises a real question about feeding.

### Is feeding at hides ethical?

The honest answer is that people who know bears disagree.

- **The operators' view.** Absolute Carpathian says its hides use bait to draw wildlife, that the food put out by foresters "has no tourist purposes", and that most bears don't come close to the hide because the forest has enough food ([Absolute Carpathian](https://absolute-nature.ro/bear-brasov-transylvania-romania/)). Ibis Tours says its hides are licensed by Romsilva, the state forestry administration, that supplementary feeding uses only natural foods and that there is no meat baiting; that is the operator's own claim ([Ibis Tours](https://ibistours.ro/bear-watching-romania/)). Swiss writer Armin Schädeli, who visited hides in Harghita, writes that foresters put out food partly to keep bears in the forest and out of villages, and quotes a forester saying the amount is too small to change bears' behaviour ([Wild Moments, 2024](https://www.wild-moments.ch/en/post/bear-watching-in-romania)).
- **The critics' view.** Eco-România, the Romanian ecotourism association, rejects the idea that feeding bears in the forest keeps them away from towns, and argues that any feeding teaches bears to link people with food. It says bear tourism is worth building if it meets four conditions: no feeding, observation only from purpose-built hides with trained guides, visitor education and local involvement ([Eco-România](https://www.eco-romania.ro/noutati-blog/ursul-nu-e-o-problema-de-aritmetica/)). Schädeli's own rule is never to feed wild animals, and to avoid operators who hang chocolate in trees to make animals climb.
- **The law.** Feeding bears in any form has been banned since 17 November 2025, and the minister said the offence requires intent (see above). The ordinance's preamble talks about discouraging "unauthorised" feeding and creating observatories for tourism ([ordinance text](https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/FormaPrintabila/00000G0MKNQXSJTHZPN29LZCWK3JAFWE)). It does not set out rules for hides.

So the claim that feeding at a hide keeps bears away from villages comes from operators and foresters, and Eco-România disputes it. If you book a hide, ask the operator who puts out the food, what it is and under which permit, and prefer one that tells you plainly.

### Hide trips near Brașov and Zărnești compared

Details below are from the operators' own websites on 16 October 2026; we have not booked any of them. Prices are as listed by the operator, mostly in euro.

| Operator and trip | Price | Duration and start | Transfer from Brașov | Minimum age | Season | What the operator says about food |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Absolute Carpathian](https://absolute-nature.ro/bear-brasov-transylvania-romania/), "Wild bears near Brasov" | 60 EUR per person, shared trip, at least 2 paying | About 3.5 h, at least 1 h in the hide; afternoon or evening, time confirmed before departure | Not included; arranged on request for an extra fee | Not stated | April–November, not Sundays | Hides use bait; food put out by foresters "has no tourist purposes" |
| [Absolute Carpathian](https://absolute-nature.ro/bear-watching-starting-from-zarnesti-afternoonevening-visit/), "Carpathian Bear watching" | 70 EUR per person, shared, at least 2 paying; photos without glass +30 EUR | About 5 h, late afternoon to dusk; site about 1 h by car from Brașov | Not stated | Not stated | April–November, not Sundays | A former feeding station; the page says hides in general use bait or water |
| [eTours](https://etours.ro/bears-in-the-wild-brasov-forest-hideout/), "Bears in the Wild Brasov" | 325 lei (60 EUR) per person; groups of 2 to 8 | 4 h and 40 km, 60–90 min in the hide; afternoon, time adjustable | Hotel pickup included | Not stated | Daily by booking, no season stated | Not mentioned |
| [Romanian Friend](https://www.romanianfriend.com/tours/bear-watching-trip-brasov-transylvania), "Wildlife Watching Experience from Brasov" | 70 EUR per person shown for 2 guests; lower if more join | Up to 4 h including transport, 1–1.5 h in the hide; starts 15:00 or 16:00 depending on season | Hotel pickup at extra cost | Under 7 not allowed | Bears hibernate in winter; confirm dates | Hide run by the local forest manager; says wildlife come to a clearing looking for food |
| [Ibis Tours](https://ibistours.ro/bear-watching-romania/), "Bear Watching Weekend" | Not stated | 2–3 day package near Zărnești; evening sessions of 2–3 h | Not stated | Not stated | April–October | Licensed by Romsilva; supplementary feeding with natural foods only, no meat baiting (its own claim) |

Absolute Carpathian and Romanian Friend both ask you to stay quiet, use no flash or red light, and expect no toilet at the hide; Romanian Friend also bans food and perfume. Absolute Carpathian says sightings are never guaranteed, while Romanian Friend quotes an 85% chance of seeing wildlife. Eco-România says observatories operate in Brașov county among other places, with visits from about 40 EUR per person.

### The alternative: Libearty Bear Sanctuary

*Libearty houses bears rescued from captivity. (Stock photo, not taken at the sanctuary.)*

The [Libearty Bear Sanctuary](https://wowbrasov.com/en/libearty-bear-sanctuary-zarnesti-guide) in Zărnești, 27 km from Brașov, is a rescue centre for bears kept in captivity, not a place to see wild bears. It is visited on a guided tour only, Tuesday to Sunday at 09:45 and 11:00. Adults pay 95 lei from Tuesday to Friday and 100 lei at weekends, children aged 5–18 pay 50 or 55 lei, and children under 5 are not allowed, according to [AMP Libearty, checked 16 October 2026](https://millionsoffriends.org/en/amp-libearty/plan-your-visit/).

Visitors may not feed the bears, and our guide has the full rules. On some days the bears stay out of sight. In late May 2026 the sanctuary also took in the cub captured on Tâmpa. If your priority is not to feed or disturb wild animals, it is the simpler choice; if you want to watch wild bears behave naturally, a hide trip is the only way, with the questions above.

## Bears in Romania: numbers and the 2025–2026 law

**How many bears?** Counts differ by method. The Environment Ministry's December 2025 report gives a mean estimate of 11,651 bears for 2023 and a preliminary minimum of 10,419 for 2025 from its DNA study; the EU habitats report for 2019–2024 gives 9,487 to 10,657, according to the [Ministry of Environment](https://mmediu.ro/storage/2025/12/Raportul-sintetic-al-studiului-privind-zonarea-managementului-speciei-urs-brun.pdf). Reuters reported in August 2026 that the ministry estimates 10,000 to 13,000 bears, and that Romania has Europe's largest bear population outside Russia.

**How the rules changed.**

| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 15 July 2024 | Lawmakers, in an extraordinary session, raised the annual quota from 220 to 481 bears. | [Reuters via Swissinfo](https://swissinfo.ch/eng/romanian-lawmakers-more-than-double-allowed-bear-kills-to-prevent-attacks/83876791) |
| 6–7 November 2025 | OUG 60/2025: feeding ban and fines, a legal definition of "habituated bear", and no step-by-step rule for bears in built-up areas, where the local emergency committee can decide on scaring, relocating or shooting. | [Ministry of Environment](https://mmediu.ro/en/comunicare/comunicate-de-presa/noi-masuri-pentru-protejarea-oamenilor-si-gestionarea-responsabila-a-ursilor-din-localitati/), [Government briefing](https://gov.ro/ro/guvernul/sedinte-guvern/briefing-sustinut-la-finalul-edintei-de-guvern-de-ministrul-mediului-apelor-i-padurilor-diana-buzoianu-i-de-purtatorul-de-cuvant-al-guvernului-ioana-dogioiu) |
| April 2026 | Lawmakers doubled the annual quota to nearly 900 bears for 2026 and 2027. | [Reuters via The Star](https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2026/08/01/romania-expands-bear-cull-critics-say-enforcement-gaps-persist) |
| May 2026 | The president signed the law approving OUG 60/2025. | [Alba24](https://alba24.ro/legea-privind-interventia-imediata-pentru-prevenirea-atacurilor-de-ursi-a-fost-promulgata-1137493.html) |
| 24 June 2026 | The Constitutional Court's summary rejecting the president's challenge to the quota law was published; it said the Habitats Directive allows derogations. | [Digi24](https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/justitie/ccr-a-respins-sesizarea-presedintelui-nicusor-dan-pe-legea-privind-prevenirea-si-combaterea-atacurilor-de-urs-brun-3830243) |
| 16 September 2026 | The Chamber of Deputies re-adopted the law after the president asked Parliament to reconsider it. | [Euronews](https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/05/romanian-president-signs-law-regulating-bear-population-cull) |
| 5 October 2026 | The president signed it (Law 190/2026): 859 bears a year at the "prevention" level and 110 at the "intervention" level, for 2026 and 2027. In 2024 the levels were 426 and 55. | [Alba24](https://alba24.ro/nicusor-dan-a-promulgat-legea-care-dubleaza-cota-de-preventie-la-ursi-cate-exemplare-vor-putea-fi-vanate-in-2026-si-2027-1161160.html), [Euronews RO](https://www.euronews.ro/articole/nicusor-dan-a-promulgat-noua-lege-privind-ursii-859-de-exemplare-pot-fi-impuscate-preventiv) |

**The debate.** The law's initiators, from the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ), say overpopulation can only be curbed through more effective intervention, and local officials say it was badly needed because bears and damage have grown, according to [Euronews](https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/05/romanian-president-signs-law-regulating-bear-population-cull). In rejecting the president's challenge, the Constitutional Court noted that the law rests on scientific data describing the population as "excessively numerous", as [Digi24](https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/justitie/ccr-a-respins-sesizarea-presedintelui-nicusor-dan-pe-legea-privind-prevenirea-si-combaterea-atacurilor-de-urs-brun-3830243) reported.

Critics quoted by Reuters include Cristina Lapis of the Libearty sanctuary, who said hunting would not happen where bears come to the roadside, and Ciprian Galusca of the Climate Adaptation Platform Association, who said existing non-lethal rules, namely feeding fines, waste management and electric-fence subsidies, are not properly enforced, according to [Reuters via The Star](https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2026/08/01/romania-expands-bear-cull-critics-say-enforcement-gaps-persist). Eco-România argues the debate focuses too much on numbers and not enough on the food sources near settlements.

None of this changes what you should do on a street or a trail.

## Related guides

- [Mount Tâmpa and the cable car](https://wowbrasov.com/en/tampa-cable-car-brasov): trails, hours and the reserve's rules.
- [Poiana Brașov guide](https://wowbrasov.com/en/poiana-brasov-guide): lifts, Postăvarul walks and what changes with the seasons.
- [Libearty Bear Sanctuary](https://wowbrasov.com/en/libearty-bear-sanctuary-zarnesti-guide): tickets, tour times and how to get there.
- [Zărnești Gorge and Piatra Craiului](https://wowbrasov.com/en/zarnesti-gorge-piatra-craiului): the walk and its bear advice.
- [Transfăgărășan from Brașov](https://wowbrasov.com/en/transfagarasan-from-brasov): the road where bears come to the roadside.
- More ideas for your stay are in [things to do in Brașov](https://wowbrasov.com/en/the-city-of-brasov).

## FAQ

### Are there bears in Brașov?

Yes. Brown bears live in the forests around the city and in 2026 were reported in Răcădău, Valea Cetății, Noua and Stupini, on Tâmpa and in Poiana Brașov. A local outlet counted 13 bears removed in the municipality between January and 13 August 2026.

### Is it safe to visit Brașov because of bears?

For most visitors, yes. The reports we cite concern forest-edge streets, bins and trails, and none of those Brașov incidents mentions an injury. Follow the basic rules: don't approach or feed a bear, call 112, and on trails walk in a group in daylight.

### Can you see bears in Brașov?

You may see one by chance at the forest edge, but don't go looking for one. To see a bear on purpose, book a guided hide trip, which costs 60–70 EUR and takes about 3.5–5 hours, or visit the Libearty sanctuary in Zărnești, from 95 lei.

### What should I do if I see a bear on Tâmpa?

Stay calm, don't run, speak calmly and step back slowly without turning your back, as Salvamont Brașov advises, and don't approach, photograph or feed it. Then call 112.

### Who do I call about a bear in Brașov?

Call 112. City Hall and the Gendarmerie both ask people to report sightings that way. Salvamont recommends the Apel 112 app on trails, so rescuers can locate you quickly.

### What is the fine for feeding a bear?

10,000 to 30,000 lei, under the hunting law as amended by OUG 60/2025, since 17 November 2025. The minister said the offence requires intent to feed the bear.

### What does a RO-Alert about a bear mean?

Authorities have used it to warn people in a named area that a bear has been seen. Recent messages told residents to keep their distance, not to photograph or feed the bear, to avoid the area and to stay indoors until the teams act.

### Do I need bear spray to hike near Brașov?

Salvamont Brașov tells hikers to carry it and use it only as a last resort. Walking in a group, in daylight and making noise are the main protections.

### Is bear watching from a hide ethical?

It depends on how the hide works. Operators say the food is put out by foresters for wildlife management; Eco-România says any feeding teaches bears to link people with food. Ask the operator who feeds and under which permit, or visit Libearty, where visitors do not feed the bears.

### Does the new bear law affect tourists?

Not directly. Law 190/2026 sets the number of bears that may be shot in 2026 and 2027: 859 at the prevention level and 110 at the intervention level. The advice for visitors is the same.

## Sources

Checked on 16 October 2026.

- Law and ministry: [OUG 60/2025 text (legislatie.just.ro)](https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/FormaPrintabila/00000G0MKNQXSJTHZPN29LZCWK3JAFWE); [Ministry of Environment press release, 6 November 2025](https://mmediu.ro/en/comunicare/comunicate-de-presa/noi-masuri-pentru-protejarea-oamenilor-si-gestionarea-responsabila-a-ursilor-din-localitati/); [Ministry of Environment study on bear management zoning, December 2025](https://mmediu.ro/storage/2025/12/Raportul-sintetic-al-studiului-privind-zonarea-managementului-speciei-urs-brun.pdf); [Government briefing, 6 November 2025](https://gov.ro/ro/guvernul/sedinte-guvern/briefing-sustinut-la-finalul-edintei-de-guvern-de-ministrul-mediului-apelor-i-padurilor-diana-buzoianu-i-de-purtatorul-de-cuvant-al-guvernului-ioana-dogioiu); [Alba24, 18 May 2026](https://alba24.ro/legea-privind-interventia-imediata-pentru-prevenirea-atacurilor-de-ursi-a-fost-promulgata-1137493.html).
- 2026 quota law: [Digi24, 24 June 2026](https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/justitie/ccr-a-respins-sesizarea-presedintelui-nicusor-dan-pe-legea-privind-prevenirea-si-combaterea-atacurilor-de-urs-brun-3830243); [Euronews, 5 October 2026](https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/05/romanian-president-signs-law-regulating-bear-population-cull); [Euronews România, 6 October 2026](https://www.euronews.ro/articole/nicusor-dan-a-promulgat-noua-lege-privind-ursii-859-de-exemplare-pot-fi-impuscate-preventiv); [Alba24, 5 October 2026](https://alba24.ro/nicusor-dan-a-promulgat-legea-care-dubleaza-cota-de-preventie-la-ursi-cate-exemplare-vor-putea-fi-vanate-in-2026-si-2027-1161160.html); [Reuters via The Star, 1 August 2026](https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2026/08/01/romania-expands-bear-cull-critics-say-enforcement-gaps-persist); [Reuters via Swissinfo, 15 July 2024](https://swissinfo.ch/eng/romanian-lawmakers-more-than-double-allowed-bear-kills-to-prevent-attacks/83876791).
- Safety advice: [Gendarmerie via Digi24, 4 July 2026](https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/nu-mai-putin-de-37-de-turisti-polonezi-coborati-de-pe-munte-sub-escorta-jandarmilor-dupa-intalnirea-cu-o-ursoaica-si-puiul-ei-3847833); [Salvamont Brașov via Capital, 16 July 2024](https://www.capital.ro/salvamont-brasov-reguli-intalnire-urs-padure.html); [Salvamont Brașov via G4Media, 3 July 2025](https://www.g4media.ro/salvamont-brasov-ursoaica-cu-doi-pui-pe-traseul-banda-galbena-cabana-malaiesti-padina-crucii.html); [Salvamont România via Agerpres, 8 June 2026](https://agerpres.ro/social/2026/06/08/salvamont-romania-recomandari-de-vara-pentru-turisti-ursii-si-viperele-coboara-tot-mai-des-in-poteci--1564026); [Brașov.net, 5 May 2026](https://www.brasov.net/val-de-apeluri-la-112-dupa-aparitia-ursilor-in-zonele-locuite-din-brasov-cum-sa-reactionezi-cand-ursul-apare-pe-strada-ta-sau-pe-traseul-montan/); [CNAIR, June 2026](https://www.cnadnr.ro/ro/comunicare/comunicate-de-presa/interes-general/s-redeschis-circula%C8%9Bia-rutier%C4%83-pe-transf%C4%83g%C4%83r%C4%83%C8%99an-dn); [InfoCons campaign, September 2024](https://fiiunexemplu.ro/campania-un-urs-hranit-e-un-urs-mort/); [Antena 3, 20 September 2021](https://www.antena3.ro/actualitate/locale/mesaj-ro-alert-urs-isu-brasov-614581.html).
- Brașov incidents: [Biz Brașov, 7 May 2026](https://bizbrasov.ro/2026/05/07/video-ursi-tampa-panoramic-gunoi-adunat/); [HotNews, 13 May 2026](https://hotnews.ro/video-urs-filmat-in-brasov-la-cateva-strazi-distanta-de-centrul-orasului-2244342); [Digi24, 24 May 2026](https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/social/panica-in-poiana-brasov-un-urs-a-intrat-intr-un-hotel-la-112-i-s-a-spus-ca-nu-este-o-urgenta-3783519); [Newsweek România, 28 May 2026](https://newsweek.ro/actualitate/un-urs-care-obisnuia-sa-intre-in-zonele-locuite-din-brasov-a-fost-capturat-si-eutanasiat-de-autoritati); [G4Media, 29 May 2026](https://www.g4media.ro/numar-record-de-apeluri-la-112-in-brasov-privind-ursii-in-ultima-noapte-inca-unul-a-fost-impuscat.html); [Monitorul Expres, 30 May 2026](https://www.monitorulexpres.ro/2026/05/30/ursulet-capturat-pe-tampa/); [Brașov Romania, 31 May 2026](https://brasovromania.net/2026/05/video-urs-filmat-in-viteza-pe-o-strada-din-brasov-alt/); [HotNews, 19 June 2026](https://hotnews.ro/un-urs-care-facea-atat-de-multe-probleme-intr-un-cartier-din-brasov-a-fost-impuscat-2278084); [Brașov.net, 6 July 2026](https://www.brasov.net/municipalitatea-brasov-continua-curatenia-pe-strada-jepilor-un-nou-urs-impuscat-pentru-protejarea-cetatenilor/); [Biz Brașov, 11 July 2026](https://bizbrasov.ro/2026/07/11/urs-strazi-cartier-brasov-persoane/); [Adevărul, 13 August 2026](https://adevarul.ro/stiri-locale/brasov/urs-impuscat-in-poiana-brasov-dupa-ce-a-incercat-2549704.html); [G4Media and Biz Brașov, 1 October 2026](https://www.g4media.ro/hranesti-pisica-si-vine-ursul-apelul-primariei-brasov-catre-cetateni-nu-mai-lasati-hrana-pentru-animale-la-platformele-de-gunoi-vin-ursii.html); [Biz Brașov, 5 January 2026](https://bizbrasov.ro/2026/01/05/in-piatra-mare/); [TVR Info, 2 December 2025](https://tvrinfo.ro/alerta-in-brasov-dupa-ce-un-urs-a-ajuns-la-mall-mesaje-ro-alert-emise-pentru-localnici-animalul-nu-a-fost-inca-prins/); [Brașov Romania, 2 December 2025](https://brasovromania.net/2025/12/video-brasov-urs-filmat-la-mall-ul-coresi-am-primit-aseara-alerta-ca-e-un-urs-prin-spatele-mallului-coresi/).
- Hide operators: [Absolute Carpathian, Brașov hide](https://absolute-nature.ro/bear-brasov-transylvania-romania/) and [Zărnești hide](https://absolute-nature.ro/bear-watching-starting-from-zarnesti-afternoonevening-visit/); [eTours](https://etours.ro/bears-in-the-wild-brasov-forest-hideout/); [Romanian Friend](https://www.romanianfriend.com/tours/bear-watching-trip-brasov-transylvania); [Ibis Tours](https://ibistours.ro/bear-watching-romania/). The debate: [Eco-România](https://www.eco-romania.ro/noutati-blog/ursul-nu-e-o-problema-de-aritmetica/), [Wild Moments](https://www.wild-moments.ch/en/post/bear-watching-in-romania).
- Libearty: [AMP Libearty, plan your visit](https://millionsoffriends.org/en/amp-libearty/plan-your-visit/).

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Source: Wow Brașov, https://wowbrasov.com/en/bears-in-brasov