A woman in a small northern Greece community is sounding the alarm after a young bear made her home its own, prompting fear among residents and frustration over what she describes as a lack of effective response from authorities.
Litsa Sotiriou, a resident of Mavrochori near Kastoria, said a two-year-old bear has been roaming her property and nearby fields for months.
The young bear was left on its own after its mother and sibling moved away. Now comfortable around people, it regularly enters her yard in search of food — including fruit and insects — and frequently stands on its hind legs when alarmed, adding to the villagers' apprehension.
"It’s a nice creature, but we have to remember it’s a large, wild animal that can become dangerous at any moment, even without intending it to be aggressive," Ms. Sotiriou said. "I’ve tried everything — contacting forestry officials, the municipality, environmental organizations — but everyone is shifting responsibility. I’m left without a solution."
Ms. Sotiriou said authorities suggested measures such as putting up an electric fence or even leaving her home, but she argues these do not resolve the core problem of the bear's proximity to the community.
She is urging the state to find a way to safely move the young bear back into the wild, advocating for both her community’s safety and the future well-being of the orphaned animal.
"Some nights, when the dogs approach it, it stands up on its two feet. It’s a dramatic, frightening sight," Ms. Sotiriou said. "All I want is for someone to take this seriously and help us and the bear. It doesn’t know how to protect itself, and we need help protecting ourselves, too."
The incident highlights growing tensions in areas where humans and wildlife increasingly come into contact, and highlights the urgent need for a clear policy on safely relocating bears that venture into residential spaces.