A bear was seen in Smiltene today, Marita Mūze, head of the communication department of the municipality, confirmed to LETA agency.
Smiltene The municipal police of the region have been informed, they are inspecting the territory of Mežu kapu and Klievezera, where bear seen
If residents notice a bear, they must report it to the Municipal Police by calling 28 659 933.
The municipality asks residents in the entire county to be very careful, as the bear has been seen in other places before, including near Niedraja lake and in the village of Mere.
Nature Protection Administration (DAP) advises that when encountering a bear, residents should keep calm, stay safe themselves and not approach, report to the responsible authorities and not cause additional stress to the animal, for example by provoking it – chasing it with a car, honking loudly, scaring it with dogs, running after it or blocking its path. Less stress by increasing the chance that the wild animal will leave the settlement on its own in the near future.
A bear usually enters the city wandering or looking for food, not driven by aggression or wanting to attack people. DAP reminds that in situations where a bear or any other large wild animal has entered the urban environment, it is primarily necessary to contact the local municipality and DAP, allowing specialists to coordinate the situation and “remove” the animal from the city faster.
