The small village of Villa Scontrone, a hamlet located in the municipal area of Scontrone in the province of L’Aquila, became the stage for an extraordinary event that quickly captured the attention of the internet. In the late evening of last July 16th, while the local community was engaged in the traditional celebrations in honor of the Madonna del Carmelo, a large bear suddenly appeared in the town centre.
The large mammal began to wander around with apparent curiosity right inside the area set up for entertainment, walking calmly among the rides installed for the occasion and to the amazement of passers-by. The appearance of the plantigrade, which according to the inhabitants’ testimonies is not new to incursions in that specific area of L’Aquila, was filmed in some videos released on the web.
How to behave: never get close
Despite the undoubted visual charm generated by the close passage of the wild animal, the situation required the immediate activation of the institutions to avoid accidents. The close presence of the mammal close to the play structures pushed the administration to promptly disseminate a series of behavioral directives to protect both the public safety of the residents and the well-being of the specimen itself.
The mayor of the Municipality of Scontrone, Francesco Melone, intervened directly through the institution’s official communication channels to remind citizens to exercise maximum caution. The mayor underlined the importance of not underestimating the situation, inviting residents and tourists to maintain a rigorous safety distance, quantified as at least 100 meters of separation from the plantigrade. The ordinance explicitly prohibits attempting close-up approaches dictated by curiosity or the desire to take photographs and record videos at a short distance.
Alongside the ban on direct interaction, the municipal administration has placed emphasis on the management of outdoor food attraction factors. It was recommended not to leave food residues, rubbish scraps or bowls with food for your pets in accessible places, elements that could push the animal to stay near houses. Finally, particular attention was required for the control of accompanying dogs, which must be strictly supervised to prevent possible defensive reactions on the part of the bear.
Scientific data on population and territorial expansion
An episode that fits into a broader ecological scenario, outlined for the first time by an estimate of the entire Marsican brown bear population not limited to the borders of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park. The results, presented to the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) as part of the DigitAP project funded by the PNRR, offer the most detailed mapping ever obtained for this endemic and highly threatened subspecies at European level. The monitoring exploited a non-invasive genetic method conducted in summer 2025, based on the detection of biological samples in the area. The data analysis revealed an overall estimate of 81 individuals (43 females and 38 males), distributed over over 6,000 square kilometers in the central Apennines.
PNALM biologist, Roberta Latini, commented on the results by declaring:
The most significant fact is the progressive expansion of the population in the areas outside the Park, above all because it also involves females.
In fact, the study reveals the presence of around 16 specimens in the peripheral areas, proof of an ongoing colonization process towards territories such as the Roveto Valley, the Monte Genzana Alto Gizio Reserve and the Maiella Park. The main dangers outside the historic reserves remain landscape fragmentation, road investments, invasive tourism and poaching.
