Bears in Romania: Are They a Real Threat?

More than half of all brown bears in Europe can be found in Romania. This translates to an estimated 10,500 to 12,800 bears that live in the country, with most of them located in the forests up in the mountains.

In other words, there are plenty of bears in Romania, and they are pretty common. If you plan a trip to the Carpathian Mountains, you probably wonder if running into one of these massive predators is a real possibility, especially since we’ve had plenty of recent news regarding bear attacks or bears “visiting” various cities or villages.

Therefore, right now, people are tempted to believe that bears attacking people – or heading into the mountain cities is the norm here.

Which, fortunately, is not true – although it’s not something to take lightly either, as there is indeed a real danger of encountering wild bears during your trip here.

So I decided to share some facts and opinions on the matter and see if you should be afraid about potential bear attacks in Romania.

Bears in Romania

Despite recent news, Romania can be considered a safe country where bears fortunately don’t roam the streets. At the same time, they sometimes appear in resorts and villages close to the mountains and can be extremely dangerous.

If you drive the famous Transfăgărășan road today, you can see bears sitting by the roadside waiting for tourists to toss them snacks.

They are heavily present in popular Prahova Valley resort towns like Brașov, Bușteni, Sinaia, and Predeal. They also attacked sheepherders and have started to show more aggressive behavior than usual.

Most of the bears that make their way into cities are searching for food. Here in Romania, they are called habituated bears. They lost their natural fear of humans because people leave trash unsecured or illegally feed them from cars.

However, the situation is highly monitored and there is a very effective local alert system called RO-Alert. It uses cell tower data to send GPS warnings for various types of dangers, including when a bear is spotted in your vicinity.

If you get one, immediately go indoors or leave the area safely. And if you happen to see a bear on the street or in the forest, don’t try to interact with them in any way, even if they seem friendly.

Don’t feed them and don’t try to pet them. The latter might seem like something nobody would do, but I’ve already seen on the news a few times that tourists were attacked by bears after they tried to pet them.

Also, if you somehow end up face-to-face with a bear, never run away fast. Running triggers a predator’s chase instinct.

Instead, avoid eye contact, speak in a calm voice, and back away slowly. Never get between a mother and her cubs.

As scary as this might sound, only consider this an extensive precaution. Chances are higher that, even in the cities or towns close to the mountains and forests, you won’t see a bear, no matter how much time you spend here.

We’ve been to both Brasov and Sinaia on multiple occasions, spent up to several days there, and never saw a bear, for example, nor did we see any by the roads.

Why are there increasing reports of bear attacks in Romania?

Some blame climate change and deforestation as the main reasons for pushing bears out of the woods. And while that most likely plays a role, the recent spike in encounters is overpopulation and human habituation.

Basically, at least some of the bears learned that human areas equal easy meals.

While bear attacks are statistically rare, they are a real threat and any encounter with a brown bear should be considered a dangerous one.

For example, in July 2024, a 19-year-old tourist was tragically killed on the popular Jepii Mici trail in the Bucegi Mountains. That horrific event sparked national outrage and a massive shift in wildlife management.

By late 2026, the Romanian government implemented new laws that doubled the culling quotas to nearly 1,000 bears.

But the incidents have not stopped entirely. Throughout 2025 and 2026, the media and the authorities reported dozens of close calls.

Just last month, a hiker was cornered near a popular cabin in the Făgăraș Mountains and had to be rescued by mountain police.

Earlier this year, a group of foreign tourists was chased back to their cars in Sinaia after getting too close for a photo.

We also see constant reports of bears breaking into rural dumpsters and causing property damage in mountain villages. So this is definitely not a risk to ignore.

Should you worry about brown bears in Romania?

There are various parts of the country where you won’t find any bears, like the southern or eastern plains. Most of the bear population is actually located in the mountain regions, living in the forests there, despite what some of the stereotypes about Romanians make you believe.

Down here around Drobeta-Turnu Severin where I live, you will never see a bear, for example.

But if you go trekking or hiking through the forests, it’s best to be prepared instead of worrying. Here is how to stay safe on the trails, at least bear-encounter-wise.

• Hike in groups: Bears avoid large, noisy crowds.
• Make noise: Make plenty of noise while walking through dense forest sections. Talk loudly with your friends or attach a bear bell to your backpack.
• Time your hikes: Avoid hiking at dawn or dusk when wildlife is most active.
• Secure your food: If you plan to camp, never keep food inside your tent. Hang your food in a tree well away from your sleeping area and use odor-proof bags if possible.
• Carry bear spray: I highly recommend carrying bear spray if you plan to do deep backcountry trekking. It is a simple investment that gives you more peace of mind.

Authorities respond very quickly to bear sightings on popular trails, but you are ultimately responsible for your own safety out there.

Also, keep in mind that there are security measures in place for keeping bears away from inhabited areas, usually in the form of electric fences.

Final words

If you were planning to visit Romania, don’t put those plans of hold because of the fear of brown bears.

Instead, follow my recommended itinerary to enjoy the country at maximum levels and know that the chances of being attacked by a bear (or even seeing one are minimal).

Just respect the wildlife if you will be in their habitat (or in areas they might visit). Treat the mountains as the bear’s home, apply basic wilderness common sense, and never offer them food or try to pet or interact with them in any way.

Of course, if you really want to be 100% safe, simply stay away from the mountain regions to avoid the wild animals, but be prepared for a new threat: Romania’s stray dogs.