Vanje Hedlund from Skellefteå had a remarkable encounter with a bear while exploring Bjuröklubb Nature Reserve. Initially searching for a rare moose, he instead found a bear rummaging through trash. The bear was later euthanized for safety reasons.
Unexpected Bear Encounter in Bjuröklubb Nature Reserve
Unexpected Bear Encounter in Bjuröklubb Nature Reserve
Vanje Hedlund experienced a remarkable encounter when he unexpectedly met a bear among the trash in Bjuröklubb Nature Reserve.
Early on Saturday, Vanje Hedlund from Skellefteå set out to combine his two great interests: photography and nature experiences.
His goal was to spot a rare moose rumored to be in Bjuröklubb Nature Reserve. However, instead of a moose, he discovered something unexpected – several trash bins had been knocked over.
Suspicions arose, and he decided to check a nearby campsite before returning to the spot where the bins were scattered. Then, suddenly, a bear emerged from the forest.
"At first, I thought 'bear, bear!'" says Vanje.
Bear Euthanized
After his initial reaction, Vanje calmed down. From 10-15 meters away, the bear, which Vanje estimates to weigh 150-200 kilos, stood on the other side of the road, looking at him as he sat in his car, a story first reported by SVT.
"I sat completely still. It looked at me occasionally, and I watched it the whole time."
For 45 minutes, he watched the bear continue to rummage through the trash.
But suddenly, cranes began to scream, catching the bear's attention.
"It just bolted," he said. "I had never seen anything run so fast."
This was the first time Vanje had encountered a bear in the wild, and he describes the meeting as "powerful."
On Saturday evening, a protective hunt was called to euthanize the bear, as also reported by Norran.