The Brown Bear in the French Pyrenees: Distribution, Size, and Dynamics of the Population from 1988 to 1992

Since the middle ages the brown bear (Ursus arctos) has occurred throughout the Pyrenees Mountains. In the mid-eastern portion of the Pyrenees, brown bears may already have been eliminated. A small relict population occupies a very restricted range in the area of the Pyrénées Atlantiques. This population has been monitored since 1978, and since 1983, the population has been counted annually. The last detailed status report was published in 1989. On the French side of the Pyrenees, the species still exists in the Ossau, Aspe, and Barétous valleys. This population is believed to inhabit approximately 50,000 ha and is believed to be comprised of 6-8 individuals, plus 2 more bears that frequent the Spanish side. From 1988 to 1992, these numbers appear to have remained stable. The birth of a cub in the Ossau valley in 1989 indicates that some reproduction is occuring. Although a few measures have been enacted to protect this population, it remains extremely vulnerable. If the population is not augmented and bear conservation objectives are not included in current land-use programs, the population may go extinct.