A beekeeper from southern Austria has revealed he is considering abandoning apiculture because of the frequent hive raids by brown bears.
The honey farm co-managed by Bernhard Novak and his dad Josef in the Carinthian town of Hermagor was destroyed by one or several bears five times.
Speaking to the MeinBezirk news website, Josef said: “We have suffered damages of thousands of Euros. It ravaged everything. All the honey is gone.”
His son Bernhard told 5 Minuten, a regional online newspaper: “In the long run, we might have to quit beekeeping if this does not stop.”
He added: “I oppose giving the green light to shooting the animal. However, the authorities could at least try to deter it.”
Asked whether he ever considered installing an electrified fence, Josef argued: “I’ve got grandchildren, they love running around and playing here. This is why I cannot set that up.”
There are 3,400 apiarists among Carinthia’s 560,000 residents.
Southwestern Austria is home to fewer than eight brown bears, according to environmentalists.
The Carinthian Hunters Association estimates that five bears have inhabited the province in recent years. In its fact sheet, the organisation said: “From October to March, bears go dormant.”
The brown bear has gone extinct twice in Austria, according to the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) branch in the Central European country.
The NGO explained: “Nowadays, they can only be found in the Karawanks, the Carnic Alps and the Gailtal Alps in the states of Carinthia and East Tyrol. The two to three male animals originate from Slovenia or Trentino in Italy.”
