The new law on bears comes into force on Thursday: 859 specimens may be harvested preventively in 2026

The new law on managing Romania’s brown bear population enters into force on Thursday, October 8, 2026, and establishes prevention and intervention quotas for this year. In total, 969 bears may be culled by December 31, including 859 under the prevention quota and 110 through intervention.

Law No. 190/2026 amends Government Emergency Ordinance No. 81/2021 and distributes the prevention quota among 528 hunting grounds in several counties. The bears may be culled by hunters, under the coordination of specialized technical staff and using methods permitted by law. The intervention quota is assigned to technical staff and may be carried out using the “stand hunting” and “stalking” methods.

Females accompanied by cubs younger than two years may not be culled. Areas where hunting is prohibited are also protected. The law also imposes rules on culling bears and maintaining balance across age and sex categories.

The mechanism will also be applied in 2027. Starting in 2028, quotas will be established annually, by May 15, based on a genetic study and data on the bear population, genetic diversity, and population structure.