Brown bear is the largest predator in Belarus. Once it was on the verge of extinction, but today its population is steadily growing, and encounters with humans are becoming more frequent. In this article, we will tell you where Belarusian bears live, how many there are now, why hunting them has been allowed, and what to do if you meet a bear in the forest. How many bears are in Belarus and where do they live According to the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the brown bear population in the country has reached 700 individuals. At the same time, according to operational data from hunters, as of June 1, 2026, already 1491 animals have been accounted for. This is a significant increase compared to the 1980s, when the population was estimated at only 80–130 individuals. Bears in Belarus are distributed unevenly. The main part of the population — about 74% — is concentrated in the Vitebsk region, in the north of the country. Another 23% inhabit the Minsk region, and 3% — the Mogilev region. In the south of the country, bears are encountered only sporadically — individual animals enter the territory of the Polotsk Radioecological Reserve, Belovezhskaya Pushcha, and the Prypetsky National Park. It is noteworthy that in 2023, the brown bear was first recorded in the Prypetsky National Park in more than 60 years. This indicates the gradual expansion of the predator's range to the south. From the Red Book to the hunting season Until 2025, the brown bear in Belarus was under strict protection and included in the Red Book with the highest category of natural conservation significance. However, due to the increase in population, its status was changed to category IV — \"potentially vulnerable species\". Since May 21, 2025, the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 420 has entered into force, which has made changes to the rules of hunting. The bear and the lynx have been given a so-called \"binary status\": they remain red-listed species, but may be ... Read more