Research and expert commentary identify several factors driving bears into human settlements: Bears Are Terrorizing Romania. It's Humans' Fault.
: Lawmakers doubled the annual culling quota from 220 to 481 bears for 2024 to curb what they termed "overpopulation". romania_in_conflict_cu_ursul_brun
Managing the coexistence between humans and brown bears ( Ursus arctos ) in Romania has evolved into one of the country's most pressing socio-ecological challenges. As home to Europe's largest brown bear population outside of Russia—estimated by a 2025 DNA-based study to be between —Romania faces a surge in dangerous encounters that have sparked intense national debate and rapid legislative shifts. Current Landscape of the Conflict Managing the coexistence between humans and brown bears
: For the first time, a comprehensive genetic study involving roughly 24,000 samples confirmed a significantly higher population than the previously estimated 8,000. romania_in_conflict_cu_ursul_brun