65 Bears Up for Grabs During Hunting Season
It is nearly open season for bear hunting, which runs from August to the end of October. This year's limit is 65 bears, which is five more than last year.
The limit set for bear hunting is based on the surveillance of bear populations by the Environment Information Center. Currently, around 700 bears inhabit Estonian forests and the population is increasing steadily.
Hunters are also restricted by regional limits, based on the size of bear populations in various parts of the country and the damage caused by the large animals. In 2009, for example, the registered financial damage caused by bears amounted to 10,161 euros, and last year it reached 12,846 euros.
A working group assembled by the Ministry of the Environment that focuses on the protection and control of large carnivores also gets a say in hunting limitations.
Ingrid Teesalu