“Warning: Keep Your Distance from Father Bear”

– We cannot have any of this.

In the last week, what is probably the same bear has been observed in several places close to the population in, for example, Romerike and in the interior.

It’s something people have picked up on. On Wednesday evening, several people visited the area where the bear is located, and it is far from optimal.

Regional damage reduction manager for wild game, Kjell Bakken, tells VG that there was “bear sight-seeing” in Emse in Gran on Wednesday evening.

– We have to put a stop to that. There was a queue up there. Seeking out bears is one of the stupidest things you can do, says Bakken.

Hadeland newspaper mentioned the matter first.

Used to people

Bakken says their worst nightmare now is that the bear will get used to people and traffic.

– Then the bear thinks that it should be like that, and it can become a victim. To disturb it like this is not good.

According to Bakken, this can lead to the bear staying around houses in search of food.

– We don’t want anything from a so-called garbage bear. Then we get a problem. We have to tell people to stay away.

Bakken says people must remember that the bear is a large predator, and can attack people and animals.

– If it eats and people seek it out, then the human can be seen as a competitor for the food. Fortunately, that has not happened. It has been quite quiet, and many have seen it in recent days.

Damage reduction

If the bear were to start attacking livestock, for example sheep on inland pasture, then the horror scenario could become a reality.

– Then we have to apply for a damage deduction permit, and we would prefer to avoid that. The best thing now is if it heads north, because it is looking for a nest.

So far, the bear has not taken any livestock. Some beehives and anthills have probably fallen victim to the predator – and a fence.

– It actually destroyed a fence last night, probably in search of some food.

50 meter

Ole Knut Steinset, responsible for large game in Oppland in SNO, was also on site on Wednesday evening. At the most, he counted 20 cars, all of which were to see the bear.

According to Steinset, people came relatively close.

– There were probably several more who were around 50 meters away. The bear took some beehives, so we had to get close to scare it away. Word of the bear spread quickly, and there was too much traffic.

Steinset says they don’t want so many people close to the bear. It is a wild animal, and situations can arise that are far from desirable.