# Romanian bear incidents, alerts and cull policy > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/urban-bear-incidents-in-romania > Updated: 2026-09-14T07:02:51.000Z. Sources: 78. Developments: 19. Municipal wildlife officials in Brașov have repeatedly intervened in urban bear sightings since early July 2026, handling various bears including mothers with cubs and solitary females. On 5 July, an adult female was captured after acoustic deterrents failed. Other incidents include a 100-kg female in Sibiu on 26 July and viral encounters on the Transfăgărășan road involving distracted tourists. In response to rising sightings, the government increased the annual brown-bear cull quota to 859 for 2026-27. By September 2026, the situation expanded into the Satu Mare and Sălaj regions. In Satu Mare, the estimated population of 21 bears has more than doubled the optimal level of 9, prompting emergency meetings between the Prefect’s Institution and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In Sălaj, sightings near Vârșolț Lake and Șimleu Silvaniei indicate that bears are establishing fixed territories near human communities due to available food sources. Recent alerts have also emerged in Bistrița-Năsăud, where a bear was spotted near Mihăiești, prompting RO-ALERT messages and Gendarmerie deployment. In Argeș County, a bear attack in the Șuici commune left a man with injuries to his left forearm, requiring SMURD medical intervention. Further sightings in Mioveni, Mălureni, and Nucșoara have led to additional emergency interventions and public warnings to maintain distance from wildlife. ## Claims - A wild brown bear approached a tourist on the Transfăgărășan road in Romania on 26 July 2026. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The tourist was standing, apparently looking at his phone, when the bear sniffed his leg. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The tourist remained still while the bear was near, then ran to his car after the bear moved in front of him. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The incident was captured on video by another tourist. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The video went viral, accumulating more than one million views online. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Public commentary was split between blaming the tourist’s phone distraction and suggesting he stayed still deliberately to avoid provoking the bear. (corroborated by 4 sources) - A bear entered central Sibiu on 27 July, reaching the courtyard of the Andrei Șaguna Pedagogical College. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Sibiu authorities issued a RO‑Alert warning residents to stay indoors during the bear incident. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The Sibiu bear was tranquilised after a two‑hour chase and will be relocated to a mountain area. (corroborated by 3 sources) - A bear approached a tourist on the Transfăgărășan road on 27 July, coming within a few centimetres of him. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The Transfăgărășan bear incident was recorded on video that received over 1.3 million views. (corroborated by 2 sources) - A female bear with two cubs was sighted in Cugir, Romania. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-14: Bears trigger emergency alerts and an attack in Romania Bear sightings and an attack have triggered emergency alerts in Romania's Bistrița-Năsăud and Argeș regions, prompting authorities to warn residents to avoid contact with wildlife. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bears-trigger-emergency-alerts-and-an-attack-in-romania ### 2026-09-09: Romania authorities address rising brown bear populations Authorities in Romania are managing rising brown bear populations in Satu Mare and Sălaj, where numbers significantly exceed optimal levels, leading to new safety and intervention protocols. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romania-authorities-address-rising-brown-bear-populations ### 2026-09-02: Debrecen arson and Romanian bear attack reported Reports from Hungary and Romania detail a revenge arson attack in Debrecen causing significant vehicle damage and a bear attack in Mureș County that injured an elderly man. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/debrecen-arson-and-romanian-bear-attack-reported ### 2026-09-02: Romania reports multiple road accidents and a bear attack Various road accidents and a bear attack involving a 74-year-old man have been reported across several Romanian counties, including Mureș, Argeș, Sibiu, and Olt. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/traffic-accidents-reported-in-piteti-and-periei ### 2026-08-31: Romania local authorities issue public safety alerts in Rucăr and Beltiug Authorities in Romania have issued safety alerts: Rucăr has banned feeding stray dogs in central and school zones, while Beltiug residents are warned of a bear sighting in the area. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romania-local-authorities-issue-public-safety-alerts-in-rucr-and-beltiug ### 2026-08-31: Romania: Bear bites car bumper on Transfăgărășan highway A brown bear bit the bumper off a car on Romania's Transfăgărășan highway after motorists stopped to photograph the animal, highlighting the dangers of ignoring wildlife safety warnings. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romania-bear-bites-car-bumper-on-transfgran-highway ### 2026-08-28: Romania issues emergency alerts after bear sightings in Vâlcea and Argeș Emergency RO-Alert warnings have been issued in Romania's Vâlcea and Argeș counties following bear sightings in Aldești and Micești, with authorities advising residents to stay indoors. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romania-issues-emergency-alerts-after-bear-sightings-in-vlcea-and-arge ### 2026-08-28: Romania addresses risks of feeding wild bears Romanian authorities warn against feeding wild bears, noting that such actions lead to aggressive behavior and new laws allowing direct intervention in residential areas to ensure public safety. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romania-addresses-risks-of-feeding-wild-bears ### 2026-08-26: Transfăgărășan bear damages vehicle bumper during traffic jam A female bear and her three cubs damaged a car's rear bumper on Romania's Transfăgărășan road during a traffic jam, highlighting the risks of human-wildlife proximity. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/transfgran-bear-attacks-vehicle-and-tears-off-bumper ### 2026-08-21: Bear causes disruption in Cocu, Argeș A bear entered a residential area in Cocu, Argeș, killing a ram. Authorities issued a RO-Alert advising residents to stay indoors and avoid the animal. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bear-causes-disruption-in-cocu-arge ### 2026-08-18: Brașov bear conflicts rise as berry harvesting reduces natural food sources Human harvesting of wild berries in Brașov is reducing natural food sources for bears, driving them closer to residential areas and increasing human-wildlife conflict risks. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/braov-bear-conflicts-rise-as-berry-harvesting-reduces-natural-food-sources ### 2026-08-09: Cugir, Romania: Bear with two cubs spotted in residential area A female bear with two cubs was sighted in Cugir, Romania, prompting authorities to issue a RO-ALERT and deploy Gendarmerie teams to ensure public safety. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cugir-romania-bear-with-two-cubs-spotted-in-residential-area ### 2026-08-05: Romanian counties see surge in bear alerts Romanian counties Argeș and Harghita report a sharp rise in bear alerts, with 359 112 calls in Harghita Jan‑Jul 2026 and Ro‑Alert warnings issued for recent sightings. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/harghita-county-bear-alerts-double-stretching-police-resources ### 2026-08-02: Romania authorizes up to 900 brown bear killings in 2026‑27 to curb human‑bear conflicts Romania will allow up to 859 brown bears to be culled in 2026‑27 to address rising human‑bear incidents on the Transfăgărășan, sparking debate over the measure’s effectiveness. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romania-authorizes-up-to-900-brown-bear-killings-in-202627-to-curb-humanbear-conflicts ### 2026-07-31: Tourist narrowly avoids bear attack on Romania's Transfăgărășan road A tourist on Romania's Transfăgărășan road was nearly attacked by a brown bear after being glued to his phone; a video of the close encounter went viral, prompting safety warnings from Romanian officials. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tourist-narrowly-avoids-bear-attack-on-romanias-transfgran-road ### 2026-07-29: Romanian Tourist Stands Still as Bear Sniffs His Leg on Transfăgărășan Road A tourist on Romania's Transfăgărășan road was approached by a bear that sniffed his leg; he stayed still, then fled when the bear moved forward. The video went viral, sparking safety debates. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/romanian-bear-brushes-mans-leg-on-transfgran-road-video-goes-viral ### 2026-07-28: Prefect Raduly Addresses Bear Threats Near Sfântu Gheorghe Stadium Residents petitioned Covasna Prefect Istvan Raduly to act on bears near Arena Sepsi; law allows removal, relocation, or shooting if aggressive. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/prefect-raduly-addresses-bear-threats-near-sfntu-gheorghe-stadium ### 2026-07-27: Romanian bears near humans spark alerts in Transfăgărășan and Sibiu On 27 July a bear neared a tourist on the Transfăgărășan road and another entered central Sibiu, prompting RO‑Alert warnings, a two‑hour chase and tranquilisation; authorities also set a capture trap in Sânpetu 13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bear-invades-city-center-of-sibiu-authorities-tranquilize-animal ### 2026-07-05: Bear removal in Brașov, Romania after urban sightings Brașov authorities removed an 11‑year‑old female bear that stayed in a residential area after non‑lethal methods failed, following multiple sightings of bears with cubs on Jepilor Street. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bear-removal-in-braov-romania-after-urban-sightings --- Cite as: Romanian bear incidents, alerts and cull policy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/urban-bear-incidents-in-romania