At 5:30 a.m. Thursday, a PPA patrol saw a bear near Rahumäe cemetery in Nõmme, a leafy residential suburb south of the city center. About 10 minutes later, a member of the public called emergency services after spotting the bear running near Ehitajate tee, Üliõpilaste tee, and the Vana-Mustamäe forest area, heading toward the Nõmme ski center.

The agency urges anyone who spots the bear to call 112 (English is spoken).

Karl Kalda, field chief at PPA's Western Harju station, said: "A wild animal can behave unpredictably, especially in an unfamiliar urban environment. We recommend avoiding the area and taking children to school by car. If you encounter a bear, keep away, avoid eye contact, and back away slowly while staying quiet."

As of 9 a.m., a PPA spokesperson announced that police and rescuers had been checking the area around the Nõmme ski tower, as well as the area around nearby Vana-Mustamäe and Glehni loss.

"The bear could not be found; there have been no further reports from people, and active searches have been discontinued," the agency said.

This is not the first sighting of a Eurasian brown bear in Tallinn. In May 2020, a mother bear and cub were seen in the Roca al Mare area west of the city.

Forest corridors extend into central areas, allowing larger wildlife to enter the city. Elk are also occasionally spotted in Tallinn.

Editor's note: This article was updated to include information on the continued search.

--

Follow ERR News on Facebook and Twitter and never miss an update!