Thessaloniki: Bear spotted in the areas of Oreokastro

The Municipality of Oreokastro announced that a bear was recently seen in the areas of Lithia, Melissochori, and the mountainous region of Oreokastro.

As reported by ERT, the bear’s appearance near residential areas may be related to its search for food or its movement.

The Municipality of Oreokastro is in contact and collaborating with the responsible authorities, the Thessaloniki Forestry Department, and environmental organizations to monitor the situation and ensure the safety of the citizens and the protection of the animal.

In this context, the municipal authorities urge residents and any citizens active in the aforementioned areas where the bear has appeared, as well as beekeepers and farmers, to be cautious and not approach the bear under any circumstances if they encounter it.

The municipality’s guidelines in case of a human-bear encounter:

“THE BEAR MUST NOT FEEL THREATENED by the human.”

This means:

Stay calm.

Remain still.

Do not pick up “threatening” objects like stones and branches.

Gradually try to retreat, recognizing the bear’s “dominance” in the area.

If the bear is in direct sight, try to appear larger.

Do not run.

In narrow spaces, create an escape route for the bear and do not block its path.

Most likely, by the time you’ve considered all the above, the bear will have already left.

If the bear visits a residential area regularly:

Continuously make noise if you’re outdoors or keep talking.

Collect garbage from outdoor spaces, squares, courtyards of homes, and anything else that may serve as a food source for the bear, thus attracting it to the area.

Clean any remnants from last year’s harvest that may exist in neighboring fields.

Citizens should remember that the bear primarily moves from dusk till dawn and may use the area as a passage.