# A Brown Bear’s Days in Vilnius, the Capital of Lithuania

## TL;DR

A brown bear's unexpected appearance in Vilnius sparked public and media interest, highlighting challenges and opportunities in urban wildlife management and human-wildlife coexistence.

## Contribution

The paper provides a multidisciplinary analysis of a real-world case of urban wildlife conflict, emphasizing social, ethical, and technological dimensions.

## Key findings

- The bear's presence revealed tensions between institutional authority and local ethical values, as hunters refused to kill the bear.
- Use of drones demonstrated a shift toward nonlethal and technological solutions in urban wildlife management.
- The bear's peaceful departure highlighted the effectiveness of nonlethal conflict resolution strategies.

## Abstract

In June 2025, a two-year-old female brown bear (Ursus arctos) appeared in Vilnius, Lithuania, attracting widespread public and media attention. This paper explores how the incident reflected not only a wildlife management issue, but also social, emotional, and symbolic responses. The media portrayed the bear as both a threat and a spectacle, using the story to capture public interest and provide distraction during times of social stress. Although authorities issued a permit to kill the bear if necessary, local hunters refused, favoring a nonlethal approach. Monitoring the animal with drones marked a shift toward technological solutions in urban wildlife management. The bear eventually left the city peacefully, and the case was viewed as a success in nonlethal conflict resolution. Overall, this event illustrates the questions about coexistence, ethics, and the understanding and representation of nature in modern society that arise when large carnivores are present in cities.

In June 2025, a two-year-old female brown bear (Ursus arctos) appeared in the streets of Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania. This sparked significant public, institutional, and media responses. This paper analyzes the event through ecological, social, and symbolic lenses to explore how large carnivores are perceived and managed at the wildland–urban interface. Through an examination of media reports, policy responses, and theoretical perspectives from environmental sociology and narrative studies, we explore how the bear’s presence became a public safety concern and a culturally significant symbol. Public discourse revealed tensions between institutional authority and local ethical values, as evidenced by hunters’ refusal to carry out a kill permit. This case also illustrates the growing use of technology, such as drones, in urban wildlife management. The bear’s peaceful departure reinforced the effectiveness of nonlethal conflict resolution. This case underscores the importance of integrating ecological realities with social perceptions, media framing, and symbolic interpretations in large carnivore conservation. It emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary approaches that address the emotional and cultural aspects of human–wildlife interactions in rapidly urbanizing areas.