Ariège: bear monitoring protocol reinforced following an incident

2026-08-17

The Ariège prefecture announced on Wednesday, August 12, the activation of level 1 of the "problem bear" protocol. This decision follows a direct encounter between a local breeder and a bear in the department's mountains. Although the incident did not cause any physical injuries, it has sparked deep concern among livestock professionals.

This specific protocol allows authorities to increase monitoring of the animal involved. From now on, targeted scaring measures are authorized. These techniques aim to drive the bear away using sound or light devices, in order to keep it away from areas frequented by herds and humans.

The presence of the bear in the Pyrenees remains a sensitive subject in France. On one hand, nature conservation associations defend the maintenance of the species, which is essential to biodiversity. On the other, breeders regularly denounce attacks on their livestock and the risks to their safety, calling for better regulation of bear populations.

State services specify that this measure is temporary and proportionate to the situation. Monitoring of the animal will be maintained by agents from the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB). Authorities are also calling on hikers and mountain professionals to exercise the utmost vigilance when traveling in the affected areas.