Bear scares residents of Bogács and Ostoros in Hungary's Heves county

A large brown bear has been sighted near the villages of Bogács and Ostoros in Heves county, Hungary. The animal's presence has prompted residents to avoid returning to forest‑adjacent homes and to keep livestock away from pastures, as the bear has been observed “herding” free‑grazing animals.

Local authorities, including the mayors of both villages and neighboring municipalities, issued warnings urging people to exercise heightened caution while walking, walking dogs, or tending to farms. Reports describe residents feeling unsafe even in their own houses, with some choosing to sleep at relatives’ homes instead of their own.

The situation has disrupted daily activities such as gardening, dog walking, and outdoor recreation, and has heightened community anxiety about the bear's movements across the area between Ostoros and Andornaktálya.