Spain is home to wild Brown Bears (Ursus arctos). These animals are not widespread but are confined to small, isolated mountain ranges in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. Their presence is a testament to decades of rigorous conservation efforts focused on the recovery of large carnivores on the continent.
The Specific Bear of Spain
The bears found in Spain are locally referred to as the Cantabrian Brown Bear. Compared to their larger North American relatives, these bears are generally smaller. Males average between 115 and 180 kilograms and measure up to two meters in length. Their coats vary in color from yellowish-brown to very dark brown, often with a slight hump over their shoulders.
Spanish brown bears rely heavily on a seasonal diet that is predominantly vegetarian. In spring and summer, they consume herbaceous plants, fruits, and berries, including wild cherries, blueberries, and hazelnuts. They supplement this diet with insects, honey, and carrion, which helps them regain weight after their winter denning period. These bears are solitary and typically avoid human contact.
Where Spain’s Bear Populations Reside
Spain’s brown bear population is divided between the Cantabrian Mountains and the Pyrenees. The Cantabrian Mountains, which stretch across the northern autonomous communities of Asturias, León, Cantabria, and Galicia, host the largest and most stable group. Recent monitoring data suggests this population has grown significantly, with current estimates placing the number at over 400 individuals.
The Cantabrian population is segmented into Western and Eastern sub-populations, which are now beginning to show signs of genetic exchange due to conservation-driven habitat connectivity. The Pyrenean population, shared with France and Andorra, is considerably smaller, estimated at 83 to 96 bears. Unlike the native Cantabrian group, the Pyrenean bears largely descend from reintroductions of Slovenian bears after the original indigenous population disappeared.
Conservation Status and Recovery Efforts
The brown bear population declined historically due to unregulated hunting and habitat destruction. Following a hunting ban in 1973, the species was officially listed as “in danger of extinction” on the Spanish Catalog of Endangered Species. This designation provides the highest level of legal protection under Spanish and European Union law.
Recovery efforts focus on addressing primary threats through habitat enhancement. Conservationists plant native fruit trees, such as wild cherries and apples, to ensure a reliable food supply. This measure also serves to mitigate human-bear conflict by reducing the need for bears to forage in agricultural areas, like orchards and apiaries.
Specific actions include “bear patrols” for monitoring and anti-poaching efforts, alongside the creation of habitat corridors to reconnect fragmented Cantabrian sub-populations. The government also provides compensation to farmers and beekeepers for livestock or property damage caused by bears. This combination of strict legal protection, active habitat management, and public awareness campaigns supports the species’ recovery.