Brown bear Switzerland: Returned and still unwelcome

The European brown bear (Ursus arctos) is as much a part of Switzerland as the bear on the Bernese coat of arms. For millennia, it was a fixture of the Alpine landscape, from prehistoric times until the early 20th century. In 1904, the last brown bear was shot in the Val S-charl in the Lower Engadine. The last sighting of an animal, presumably migrating from Italy, occurred in 1923. After that, the bear was extinct in Switzerland for a hundred years.

In the summer of 2005, the first brown bear in a century appeared in the Swiss National Park. Photographic evidence, media frenzy, and a wave of enthusiasm followed. Since then, at least 22 bears have migrated to Switzerland, all from the Trentino population in northern Italy, all males, all via the canton of Graubünden. Ninety percent of them behaved inconspicuously, staying for days, weeks, or months before moving on. Two were shot as "risk bears": JJ3 in April 2008 near Thusis, and M13 in February 2013 in the Val Poschiavo. Another, M29, lived for almost four years in the cantons of Graubünden, Bern, and Uri without ever causing damage or coming too close to humans.

In Switzerland, the brown bear is still considered "extinct" (regionally extinct) despite sporadic sightings, because no reproduction takes place. No females migrate in. Without females, there are no cubs; without cubs, there is no population. Switzerland has no bear reintroduction program. The bear arrives naturally, and so far, it also leaves again.

This dossier documents what the brown bear means for Switzerland and the Alpine region: its biology, its history, its return, the real threats it faces, the "problem bear" label as a political construct, and the question of whether a society that features the bear on its coat of arms is prepared to live with it. Those wishing to delve deeper will find the most comprehensive material in our dossier on hunting in Switzerland .

What awaits you here

Biology and lifestyle: Who the European brown bear is, how it lives, what it eats and why it poses no danger to humans if it is given the space it needs.
Ecological significance: Why the brown bear is indispensable as an omnivore, seed disperser and keystone species for intact Alpine ecosystems.
History: From extinction to cautious return. How recreational hunting destroyed the bear in Switzerland and why its return is a product of conservation, not recreational hunting.
20 years of bears in Switzerland. From M1 to the present day: An assessment of their return, showing that coexistence is possible and only a few individuals cause problems.
The "problem bear" label: A political construct instead of biological reality. Why the term "problem bear" shifts responsibility from humans to the animal.
Threats: Illegal killing, traffic, habitat fragmentation, political populism and trophy hunting.
Hobby hunting and the bear: Why trophy hunting, hunting quotas and the “management” vocabulary undermine bear conservation.
Slovenia and Trentino: How "management" becomes the code word for hobby hunting.
"Did you know?" 20 facts about the brown bear that hardly anyone knows.
What needs to change: Concrete political demands.
Argumentarium: Answers to the most common claims.
Quick links: All relevant articles, studies and dossiers.

Biology and way of life: The shy giant of the Alps

The European brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos) is the largest land predator in Europe and belongs to the bear family (Ursidae). The European subspecies reaches a head-body length of 170 to 220 centimeters, a shoulder height of 90 to 110 centimeters, and a weight of 140 to 320 kilograms for males and 100 to 200 kilograms for females. Its fur varies from light blond to cinnamon brown to almost black. A distinctive hump over the shoulders, a massive skull, and powerful paws with non-retractable claws up to 10 centimeters long characterize the species. The hind paw can be up to 22 centimeters long in adult animals. Despite their weight, brown bears can reach speeds of up to 50 km/h over short distances.

The brown bear is an omnivore, with a diet that is approximately 75 percent plant-based. In spring, its diet consists mainly of grasses, herbs, roots, and buds, supplemented by carrion. In summer and autumn, when it's time to build up fat reserves for winter hibernation, it primarily eats berries, fruits, beechnuts, acorns, and nuts. Honey is a favorite. Insects and their larvae are an important source of protein. European brown bears hunt opportunistically and may occasionally prey on unprotected livestock, but they are not specialized predators. KORA clarifies: The stomachs of Swiss bears examined contained predominantly plant remains. A study by Washington State University confirms that bears are not carnivores in the strictest sense; they are omnivores with a preference for carbohydrate-rich foods.

Brown bears are solitary animals. Unlike lynx and wolves, they are not territorial: they tolerate other members of the same sex in their habitat and do not defend a territory. Their home ranges vary considerably depending on the availability of food: from 130 square kilometers in Croatia to 1,600 square kilometers in Scandinavia for males, and from 60 to 225 square kilometers for females. Young females often settle near their mothers, while young males disperse widely, which prevents inbreeding and allows the species to spread.

The mating season falls between May and July. After copulation, embryonic diapause occurs: the fertilized egg only implants at the beginning of hibernation. The actual gestation period is only 6 to 8 weeks, but the total time between mating and birth is 180 to 270 days. In January or February, 1 to 3, rarely 4, young are born in the winter den. The newborns weigh only 340 to 680 grams, are blind, almost hairless, and rat-sized—an extreme size difference from their mother. The young stay with their mother for about two years, during which time she spares no effort to protect her offspring. Sexual maturity is reached at 3 to 5 years of age. Life expectancy is 20 to 30 years in the wild and up to 50 years in captivity. The reproductive rate is one of the lowest of all mammals.

Winter dormancy lasts from two to seven months, depending on the region, typically from October to March. Unlike true hibernators, the bear's body temperature barely drops. It neither eats nor drinks and lives off the fat reserves it accumulated in the autumn. It digs its own den or creates one under tree stumps and windblown debris. The slightest disturbance awakens the bear, which can be particularly fatal for females with cubs: disturbed mothers sometimes abandon their newborns.

The brown bear is by nature a shy animal that distrusts humans. If it notices a person in time, it avoids them. In Europe, brown bears have become more nocturnal due to increased contact with humans. Young bears are initially active during the day and apparently only learn to become nocturnal through disturbances.

More on this topic: Bears are not carnivores and 20 years of bears in Switzerland

Ecological significance: Omnivore, seed disperser, keystone species

The brown bear is a keystone species in alpine and subalpine ecosystems. Its functions are diverse, scientifically documented, and cannot be replaced by recreational hunting.

As seed dispersers, bears play a significant role in the spread of berry bushes and trees. When they consume large quantities of berries, fruits, and nuts in autumn, they excrete the seeds over long distances in other locations. This process of zoochory promotes the genetic diversity and dispersal of plants and actively shapes forest landscapes. WWF Austria emphasizes: Bears help disperse fruits, nuts, and seeds, thus contributing to the spread of plant species in the forest.

As a scavenger, the bear removes dead animals and carrion, especially after winter. This function is important for the nutrient cycle in the forest and reduces the risk of disease transmission through decaying carcasses.

As a soil mover , the bear digs for roots, tubers, insect larvae, and small mammals. In doing so, it aerates the soil, promotes humus formation, and creates microhabitats for other species. Similar to the badger, but on a larger scale, the bear is a natural soil cultivator.

As an indicator species , the presence of the brown bear signifies the quality of large, undisturbed forest landscapes. Where bears live, the habitat is large enough, interconnected enough, and undisturbed enough that numerous other species also benefit. The bear is at the top of the food chain and is an indicator of the ecological integrity of entire landscapes.

As part of the natural predator community, the bear complements the roles of the wolf and lynx . While the wolf primarily regulates ungulate populations and the lynx specializes in roe deer and chamois, the bear, as an omnivore, utilizes a much broader diet and occupies its own ecological niche. The return of all three predators to the Alps would restore a balance that recreational hunting disrupted centuries ago.

More information: Dossier: The lynx in Switzerland and Dossier: Arguments for professional game wardens

History: The extermination and its lessons

The history of the brown bear in Switzerland is a history of systematic extermination by humans. In prehistoric times, the brown bear inhabited the entire country. By 1500, it had already disappeared from the Swiss Plateau, which was by then fully populated and largely deforested. Between 1800 and 1850, the last brown bears of the Northern Alps and the Jura Mountains were killed. The species survived longer in the Grisons and Ticino Alps.

Then came the modern rifle. The advent of improved firearms caused the number of bears killed to skyrocket again in the 19th century. By the beginning of the 20th century, the brown bear was only found in the Lower Engadine, the Val Müstair, and the Val dal Spöl. On September 1, 1904, an amateur hunter shot the last bear in the Val S-charl. In 1923, a bear, presumably migrating from Italy, was observed for the last time in Switzerland. Then there was silence. For a hundred years.

The extinction of the bear is not a natural event. It is the result of a cultural history in which the bear was seen as a threat, a competitor, a trophy, and a pest. Recreational hunting destroyed the bear population in Switzerland. This fact is systematically ignored in the current debate about the return of these predators.

The brown bear has only been protected in Switzerland since 1962 under the Hunting Act (JSG, Art. 5 and 7). Internationally, it is listed as a "strictly protected species" (Appendix II) under the Bern Convention. Switzerland ratified the Convention in 1981 and is obligated not to intentionally capture, kill, or disturb brown bears in their habitat. The brown bear is listed in Annexes II (protected areas) and IV (strictly protected) of the EU Habitats Directive. It is included in Appendix II of the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Globally, the IUCN classifies it as "Least Concern," but four of the ten European populations are considered "critically endangered," including the Alpine population.

The return began in 2005 when a young brown bear from Trentino migrated into the Swiss National Park. Between 1999 and 2002, ten bears from Slovenia had been relocated there to support the last remaining population of only 3 to 4 animals in the Alps. The Trentino population grew to an estimated 73 to 92 individuals (2021). Since then, young males have regularly migrated north from this population, some as far as Switzerland.

More on this: Federal Council adopts report on bears in Switzerland and bear observed in the Lower Engadine

20 years of bears in Switzerland: A review

Since 2005, at least 22 bears have visited Switzerland. They came almost every year, with the exception of 2006, 2009, and 2023. All sightings were recorded during the warmer months (April to October); the bears hibernate during the winter months. KORA documents that all confirmed bears were exclusively males. Where possible, the migrating animals were genetically identified through DNA analysis. Most stayed only a few days to a few months and then migrated back towards Trentino, where female bears also live.

The conclusion is clear: 90 percent of the bears recorded in Switzerland so far have behaved largely inconspicuously. M29, for example, lived in the cantons of Bern and Uri from 2016 to 2020 without causing any damage or coming too close to humans. He was the only confirmed bear outside the canton of Graubünden and remained for almost four years. In 2018 and 2019, there were also bear sightings in Valais for the first time.

Two bears were classified as "risk bears" and shot: JJ3, who was killed by game wardens near Thusis in April 2008 after losing his fear of humans and repeatedly appearing in populated areas, and M13, who was shot in the Val Poschiavo in February 2013. M13 had previously been injured in a collision with a Rhaetian Railway train but survived. The shootings were carried out according to the "Swiss Bear Concept," the Federal Office for the Environment's (FOEN) implementation guidelines, which establish strict criteria for killing bears. Another bear was hit and killed by a train in the Lower Engadine in 2016.

The "Swiss Bear Concept" is based on the principle that coexistence between humans and bears is possible under certain conditions, with human safety being paramount. The Federal Council confirmed in 2021 that the concept complies with pan-European guidelines. Potential lies in damage prevention: the better beehives, livestock, and waste disposal are protected, the lower the risk of bears developing problematic behavior.

The future depends on whether female bears migrate into the region. The nearest resident females of the Trentino population are located approximately 40 kilometers from the Swiss border. Over the past four years, these females have begun to slightly expand their core territory. KORA concludes that if this trend continues in Trentino, the likelihood of female bears visiting Switzerland also increases. However, before a stable Alpine population can be established, a connection between the Trentino population and the much larger Dinaric Alps population in Slovenia and Croatia is essential.

More on this: 20 years of bears in Switzerland and a report of a brown bear in Bavaria

The "problem bear" label: A political construct instead of biological reality

Few terms have shaped and simultaneously distorted the public discourse on predators as much as the word "problem bear." The term first appeared prominently in 2006 when the brown bear JJ1, better known as "Bruno," wandered from Trentino into Bavaria, where he killed sheep, raided beehives, and was spotted near settlements. Bavaria's then Environment Minister, Werner Schnappauf, declared: "The bear has become a problem bear." A few weeks later, Bruno was dead, shot near Spitzingsee on June 26, 2006, 170 years after the last Bavarian bear.

Bruno's story is a parable about the failure to manage predators. Bruno's mother, Jurka, had been fed by a hotel owner who wanted to use bears as an attraction for guests. Bruno had learned from his mother that food could be found near humans. The behavior that made him a "problem bear" was man-made. The bear was the symptom, not the cause.

JJ1 was Bruno's official name. JJ4, his sister, was declared the perpetrator in 2023 in Trentino when she fatally attacked 26-year-old jogger Andrea Papi. It was the first fatal bear attack in Italy in modern times. JJ4 was also captured and imprisoned. She, too, was labeled a "problem bear." The question of why there was no adequate visitor management, warning system, or consistent feeding prevention in an area with around 100 bears was hardly raised.

In Switzerland, JJ3 (2008) and M13 (2013) were classified as "risk bears" and shot. The "Swiss Bear Concept" defines an escalation level from "nuisance bear" to "problem bear" to "risk bear." The terms sound objective, but they focus attention on the animal and away from the context. A bear that enters a residential area because garbage containers are left open, beehives are unsecured, and livestock graze unprotected is not a "problem bear." It is a bear in a problematic habitat. KORA puts it more nuanced: Of the 34 known deaths in the Alpine bear population from 2003 to 2019, almost half were caused by humans, either through traffic collisions, illegal killings, or legal killings.

More on this: Trentino: Bear attacks amateur hunter and Demonstration in Trentino: Hundreds demand release of bear JJ4

Threats: What really endangers the brown bear in Switzerland and the Alps

Illegal killing and politically motivated culls remain one of the greatest threats to brown bears in the Alps. Slovakia has decided to shoot up to 350 brown bears, officially to "ensure public safety." Of approximately 1,300 animals, more than a quarter are to be killed. Conservation organizations accuse Bratislava of directly violating the EU Habitats Directive. In Trentino, a new law from 2024 allows for the simplified culling of up to eight "problematic" bears per year.

Trophy hunting as a hobby threatens brown bears, especially in Eastern Europe. In Romania, Prince Emanuel von und zu Liechtenstein shot and killed the brown bear "Arthur," the largest bear ever documented in Romania, in March 2021 under questionable circumstances. The permit to shoot him was for a completely different, smaller "problem bear." The Romanian environmental organization Agent Green described the shooting as poaching and the case as comparable to the ivory trade: "Killing large male animals weakens the bear population."

Traffic accidents regularly claim victims. In Switzerland, a bear was run over and killed by a Rhaetian Railway train in the Lower Engadine in 2016. M13 suffered bruises in a similar collision in 2012. Throughout the Alps and Carpathians, road collisions are a significant cause of death.

Habitat fragmentation and isolation threaten the genetic viability of the Alpine bear population. The Trentino population descends from only ten founder animals. It is small and genetically isolated. A connection to the much larger Dinaric population (around 2,145 individuals) is crucial for the long-term survival of the brown bear in the Alps. Roads, highways, settlements, and a lack of wildlife corridors prevent the necessary genetic exchange.

Habituation caused by human error is the primary reason for "problem bears." Open garbage containers, unsecured beehives, feeding by tourists, and a lack of visitor management accustom bears to human food sources. A bear conditioned by food will deliberately seek out areas near settlements. The problem is man-made and can be solved by humans.

Populist handling of conflicts politically jeopardizes bear conservation. In Trentino and Slovakia, politicians are exploiting the bear issue to gain political points with rural voters. Maurizio Fugatti (Lega), the governor of Trentino, has become the most prominent advocate of generous hunting quotas. A conservation narrative is becoming a narrative of killing, and "management" is becoming a code word for recreational hunting.

More on this: Europe's largest brown bear killed and controversial new law allows bear shooting in Trentino

Hobby hunting and the bear: Historical guilt, current threat

The relationship between recreational hunting and the brown bear can be summarized in one sentence: Recreational hunting has eradicated the bear, and it prevents its return.

First: Recreational hunting has wiped out the brown bear in Switzerland and large parts of Western Europe. Systematic hunting from the Middle Ages into the 20th century, driven by trophy hunting, fear-mongering, and the image of the bear as a "pest," led to the extermination of a species that had lived in Europe for millennia. In Bavaria, the last bear was killed in 1835, in Switzerland in 1904, and in Germany, the bear remained absent for 170 years. The first returning bear, Bruno, was shot after only six weeks.

Secondly, trophy hunting as a hobby threatens bear populations in Eastern Europe. In Romania, once Europe's stronghold of bear trophy hunting, wealthy foreigners can buy permits to shoot bears despite strict protection laws. The Arthur case has shown how the system works: A prince arrives, shoots the largest bear instead of the one authorized for hunting, and the authorities turn a blind eye.

Thirdly, in Slovenia, "bear management" is being misused as a cover for hunting. The practice of deliberately feeding bears, officially to keep them away from settlements, leads to an artificial increase in the population. Generous hunting quotas are then released—a political gift to a well-organized amateur hunting lobby. The bears attracted by the feeding are declared "problem animals" and authorized for culling. At the same time, the debate ignores the fact that culling can alter the population's behavior: If shy, cautious animals are removed, the more curious and aggressive individuals remain.

Fourth: While Switzerland doesn't have a direct problem with recreational hunting of bears, as shooting them is reserved for game wardens, the system of recreational hunting creates the cultural and political framework in which predators are perceived as competitors, threats, and problems, rather than as an enrichment. The recreational hunting lobby fuels the fear of predators because their return challenges its own narrative: that only humans with shotguns can "manage wildlife."

The Geneva model has demonstrated since 1974 that professional wildlife management can function without recreational hunting. Professional game wardens, who are trained, independent, and committed to species conservation, can also handle large predators objectively, competently, and without trophy interests.

More on this: Slovenia's brown bears as scapegoats and Dossier: Geneva and the hunting ban

"Did you know?" 20 facts about the brown bear

The brown bear is the largest land predator in Europe, but its diet is 75 percent plant-based. It is an omnivore, not a predator in the classic sense.
The last brown bear in Switzerland was shot in 1904 in Val S-charl in the Lower Engadine. It was then extinct for a hundred years.
In 2005, the first brown bear in a century appeared in the Swiss National Park. All bears documented since then have come from the Trentino population.
Since 2005, at least 22 different bears have visited Switzerland. All were males. Not a single female has migrated here so far.
90 percent of the bears seen in Switzerland so far have behaved inconspicuously, without causing any damage to people or property.
M29 lived in Switzerland for almost four years (2016 to 2020) in the cantons of Graubünden, Bern and Uri, without ever becoming a problem.
The brown bear enters a state of torpor, not hibernation. Its body temperature barely drops, and it can wake up immediately if disturbed.
Newborn brown bears weigh only 340 to 680 grams, about the same as a rat. The size difference compared to their mother (up to 200 kilograms) is more extreme than in any other placental animal.
Brown bears are not territorial. They tolerate other brown bears in the same habitat and do not defend a territory.
The Trentino bear population descends from just ten founder animals, which were relocated from Slovenia between 1999 and 2002. Before that, only 3 to 4 bears lived there.
Of the 34 known deaths in the Alpine population (2003 to 2019), almost half were caused by humans: traffic accidents, illegal killings and legal shootings.
The brown bear can run up to 50 km/h over short distances, faster than a horse.
“Bruno” (JJ1) was the first brown bear in Germany in 170 years in 2006. He was shot after only six weeks as a “problem bear.” His sister JJ4 killed a jogger in Trentino in 2023 and has been in an enclosure ever since.
The bear is the heraldic animal of Bern, Appenzell, and numerous other municipalities. It has shaped Swiss cultural history for centuries.
There is no bear reintroduction project in Switzerland. The return is happening naturally, exclusively through immigration from Italy.
The brown bear has one of the lowest reproductive rates of all mammals. Females only give birth every two to three years, with litter sizes usually consisting of one to three cubs.
The entire alpine population is "threatened with extinction". Only the connection to the Dinaric Alps population in Slovenia and Croatia can ensure its long-term survival.
In Romania in 2021, Prince Emanuel of Liechtenstein shot and killed "Arthur," the largest brown bear ever documented in Europe, under questionable circumstances. The permit to shoot him was for a different animal.
Female bears with cubs can react aggressively when disturbed. The vast majority of bear attacks on humans are related to mothers defending their young.
KORA documents: Since 2005, the Swiss population has become more relaxed about bears. The initial agitation has given way to a more pragmatic attitude. Switzerland's natural landscape offers suitable habitat for brown bears in many regions. The question is not whether the habitat exists, but whether society is willing to share it.

What needs to change: Political demands

The IG Wild beim Wild (Interest Group for Wildlife) is calling for a paradigm shift in the management of brown bears in Switzerland and the Alpine region. Instead of reactive culling policies, preventive coexistence strategies are needed.

First: Consistent damage prevention instead of "problem bear" rhetoric. Bear-proof waste disposal in all potential bear habitats (Graubünden, Valais, Ticino, Central Switzerland). Mandatory electric fencing for beehives. Bear-proof containers in settlements and along hiking trails. Prevention must be prioritized before the next bear encounter, not after.

Secondly: No culling without independent review. The decision to kill a bear must not rest solely with cantonal hunting authorities, who are often under political pressure. An independent expert commission, including representatives from KORA, animal welfare organizations, and wildlife biologists, must review every culling order beforehand.

Thirdly: Professional game wardens instead of hobby hunting structures. The management of predators must be in the hands of specialized experts, not in the hands of a system geared towards trophies and meat production. The Geneva model shows how it can be done.

Fourth: Secure and expand wildlife corridors between Trentino and Switzerland. Connecting the Alpine subpopulations is vital for their survival. Switzerland must actively participate in international coordination between Alpine countries and secure migration corridors through spatial planning.

Fifth: A ban on trophy hunting of bears throughout Europe. Switzerland should advocate in international bodies for the trophy hunting of strictly protected predators to be outlawed and banned across Europe.

Sixth: Education and awareness. The population in potential bear habitats must be objectively informed: about how to behave during bear encounters, about the low actual risk, and about the ecological importance of bears. Fear-mongering by the media and the recreational hunting lobby must be countered with facts.

Argumentation: Answers to the most common claims

"The bear is dangerous and has no place in a densely populated cultural landscape." The experience of the last 20 years in Switzerland shows the opposite: 90 percent of the bears that have migrated into the country have behaved inconspicuously. In 2024, around 20,400 brown bears lived in Europe, including in relatively densely populated countries like Slovenia, Croatia, and Slovakia. The examples in Italy, Austria, and Slovenia show that the brown bear can also find habitat in cultural landscapes. Pro Natura notes that most bears live shyly and secluded lives far from settlements in forests. Switzerland has forgotten how to live with bears, but this can be relearned.

"Problem bears must be shot, otherwise they endanger people." In extremely rare cases, shooting a bear may be unavoidable. But the label "problem bear" obscures the cause: almost always, the problem lies not with the bear, but with humans. Food conditioning through open garbage, unsecured beehives, and baiting creates "problem bears." Consistent prevention would avert most conflicts. In North America and Scandinavia, bear-proof waste management systems have been working for decades.

“Bears are killing livestock. This is unacceptable for mountain farmers.” Bear damage is concentrated on beehives, orchards, small livestock, and, less frequently, cattle. According to current legislation, the federal government compensates 80 percent of the damages, and the cantons 20 percent. The federal government covers 100 percent of other direct damages. The Federal Council confirmed in 2021 that the compensation system is working. Prevention (electric fences, bear-proof beehives, livestock guarding) is a more effective approach than shooting bears.

“Recreational hunting has nothing to do with bears; in Switzerland, only game wardens are allowed to shoot anyway.” While this is technically true, it doesn't tell the whole story. Recreational hunting has eradicated bears in Switzerland. The recreational hunting system continues to shape the cultural and political framework in which predators are perceived as competitors and threats. The recreational hunting lobby fuels the fear of predators because their return challenges this narrative. The situation in Trentino and Slovenia demonstrates how “management” becomes a tool for the recreational hunting lobby.

“There are already enough bears in Europe; Switzerland doesn’t need to take in any more.” The Alpine bear population is one of the most endangered in Europe. It is small, genetically isolated, and not viable in the long term. Switzerland lies in the heart of the Alps and is crucial for the natural distribution and connectivity of bear populations. Anyone who says there are “enough” bears is ignoring the reality of Alpine fragmentation.

“The Swiss bear management concept works. Why do we need more?” The Federal Council acknowledges that the bear management concept has proven fundamentally effective. However, it was designed for a situation where individual bears pass through. If the Trentino population continues to expand and females migrate into Switzerland, the demands on prevention, education, and management will increase significantly. Switzerland must prepare now, not wait until the first conflict escalates.

Quick links

Articles about bears on wildbeimwild.com:

Related dossiers:

Our claim

The brown bear belongs to Switzerland. Not as a heraldic animal, not as a tourist attraction, not as folklore, but as a living part of an ecosystem that is incomplete without it. Recreational hunting eradicated it. Conservation has made its return possible. The question now is whether Switzerland is prepared to allow and shape this return, or whether it will drive the bear away a second time, this time not with a gun, but with indifference, a lack of prevention, and populist rhetoric about "problem bears."

Twenty years of bear presence in Switzerland have shown that coexistence is possible. The vast majority of bears behave inconspicuously. The few conflicts that do occur are man-made and can be resolved by humans. What is lacking is not habitat, but rather the political will, consistent prevention measures, and the willingness to recognize the system of recreational hunting for what it is in dealing with predators: part of the problem, not the solution.

Anyone who bears a bear in their coat of arms must be prepared to live with the bear. Anything else is hypocrisy.

This dossier is continuously updated as new studies, figures or political developments require it.

More on the topic of hobby hunting: In our dossier on hunting, we compile fact checks, analyses and background reports.