A Marsicana bear together with her three cubs was spotted on the morning of Wednesday 12 November near Palombaro, a small town in the province of Chieti. The animals, probably in search of food, moved along the slopes that connect the town to the wooded areas of the Maiella National Park.
The sighting prompted the mayor Rosalia Di Martino to issue a public notice aimed at citizens, to provide some useful information on how to behave in the presence of bears and to contribute to the protection of wildlife.
The appeal for citizens’ collaboration
In the statement, the first citizen invited the population not to approach the bears, either on foot or by car, and to avoid any form of disturbance or pursuit. The objective is to guarantee public safety and the protection of the plantigrade family, belonging to a species considered at risk of extinction.
The main recommendations also include a ban on leaving food outdoors and the obligation to dispose of organic waste only after 6 am, to prevent odors from attracting animals near homes.
The Municipality of Palombaro has asked citizens to collaborate with the Maiella National Park and with the Carabinieri Forestry Unit, reporting any free food sources or shelters of unprotected domestic animals, which could represent an attraction for bears. For any communications or reports, Mayor Di Martino has made the numbers of the local forestry unit available: 335-5946979 and 335-5946681.
From Maiella to Palombaro
In the previous days, the same bear with her cubs had been noticed in the outskirts of Palena, where the mayor had issued an urgent ordinance with similar measures in order to establish responsible coexistence between man and wildlife. The message is clear: the presence of the bear is not a danger and protecting her and her cubs also means defending the territory we all share.
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