Bear spotted near Simeonovo lift on Vitosha: mountain rescuers urge caution
A mountain rescuer saw the animal near an intermediate station of the lift to the Severina hut. Rescuers say this is normal for the area – hikers should make noise and walk in groups.
Archive image · Photo: Apostoloff / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)
A mountain rescuer spotted a bear on Sunday near an intermediate station of the Simeonovo lift, which runs up Vitosha mountain near Sofia to the Severina hut. The spot lies close to the Bistrishko Branishte nature reserve. The Mountain Rescue Service of the Bulgarian Red Cross reported the sighting on Facebook, BNT said.
Bears in that forest are normal, the rescuers said. They advise hikers to walk in groups or make enough noise to be heard at least 30 metres away. A bear that is not provoked will not attack. Anyone who encounters one should back away slowly while facing the animal and avoid eye contact.