--- title: "Farmers&Predators: From the Alps to the Sierra Nevada: Bears in the Pyrenees" description: "Farmers&Predators: From the Alps to the Sierra Nevada: Bears in the Pyrenees" image: https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/13-Bear-049-1200px-1-2-1.jpg --- [![almonature-logo-4](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/almonature-logo-4.svg) ](https://www.almonature.com/en/?hsLang=en-ca) ![EN](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/country_flags/ca.svg) [![almonature-logo-4](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/almonature-logo-4.svg) ](https://www.almonature.com/en/?hsLang=en-ca) - Products - About us - [Where to buy](https://www.almonature.com/it/trova-un-negozio?hsLang=en-ca) Products - Cat Food - Dog Food - Cat Litter Cat Food - [Natural HQS](https://www.almonature.com/en-ca/cat-products?segment=Natural%20HQS&hsLang=en-ca) - [Mousse HQS](https://www.almonature.com/en-ca/cat-products?segment=Mousse%20HQS&hsLang=en-ca) - [Complete HQS](https://www.almonature.com/en-ca/cat-products?segment=Complete%20HQS&hsLang=en-ca) - [La Cucina HQS](https://www.almonature.com/en-ca/cat-products?segment=La%20Cucina%20HQS&hsLang=en-ca) - [Supportive Formulas HQS](https://www.almonature.com/en-ca/cat-products?segment=Supportive%20Formulas%20HQS&hsLang=en-ca) - [Hydration Help HQS](https://www.almonature.com/en-ca/cat-products?segment=Hydration%20Help%20HQS&hsLang=en-ca) - [Classic Complete](https://www.almonature.com/en-ca/cat-products?segment=Classic%20Complete&hsLang=en-ca) [![bio-diversity-menu-icon](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/bio-diversity-menu-icon.png) All Cat Food ](https://www.almonature.com/en-us/cat-products?hsLang=en-ca) Dog Food - [Natural HQS](https://www.almonature.com/en-ca/dog-products?segment=Natural%20HQS&hsLang=en-ca) - [Complete HQS](https://www.almonature.com/en-ca/dog-products?segment=Complete%20HQS&hsLang=en-ca) [![bio-diversity-menu-icon](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/bio-diversity-menu-icon.png) All dog food ](https://www.almonature.com/en-us/dog-products?hsLang=en-ca) Cat Litter - [All Litter](https://www.almonature.com/it/lettiere?hsLang=en-ca) - [Soft Texture](https://www.almonature.com/it/catlitter-soft-texture?hsLang=en-ca) - [Grain Texture](https://www.almonature.com/it/catlitter-grain-texture?hsLang=en-ca) About us - [Brand Profile](https://www.almonature.com/it/manifesto?hsLang=en-ca) - [Our history](https://www.almonature.com/it/la-storia?hsLang=en-ca) - [The company](https://www.almonature.com/it/rendicontazione?hsLang=en-ca) - [Reintegration Economy](https://www.almonature.com/it/reintegration-economy?hsLang=en-ca) ![Farmers&Predators: From the Alps to the Sierra Nevada: Bears in the Pyrenees](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/13-Bear-049-1200px-1-2-1.jpg)   Respected naturalists and wildlife photographers Angelo Gandolfi and Elisabeth van Lersel, embark on a journey through southern France, Spain and Portugal, discovering large predators and looking at their impact on the environment and the human communities sharing the same ecosystems. Here’s what they write in part two of their diary extract.   ![farmers predators almo nature alpi sierra nevada orso lupo](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/1-Elisabeth-e-Angelo-300x200-Jan-03-2022-12-20-34-34-PM.jpg) Elisabeth and Angelo during one of their trips   ## Predators, explorers In 1970, the  **[WWF](http://www.wwf.it/abruzzo/)** (Italy) and the  **National Park of Abruzzo** launched the wolf protection program, its aim to support human/predator coexistence over more traditional predator management methods. It was 22 years before species expansion **850 kilometers (528 miles) **via Tuscany and Liguria led to the  **first sighting** on the French border in 1992. 
But as soon as the wolf reached the French-Italian Maritime Alps, its rate of expansion increased, taking  **only 7 more years **to extend its occupation to the eastern Pyrenees some 470 kilometers (292 miles) away. The wolf’s **ability to traverse populated areas**, crossing rivers and highways, traveling over bridges and tunnels was **amazing**.   ![farmers predators almo nature alpi sierra nevada orso lupo](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/2-_MG_2210-1200px-1024x683-Jan-03-2022-12-20-34-71-PM.jpg) Cathar castle, in the eastern Pyrenees I ![farmers predators almo nature alpi sierra nevada orso lupo](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/10-_5210435-1200px-1024x768-4.jpg) The old Pyrenean flocks, today largely replaced by cattle The **eastern Pyrenees**, south of Carcassonne, does not have high mountain peaks, rather expanses of forest and prairies suitable for small-scale farming. The area has always provided  **safe refuge**: in 1208, Albigensians fled into the area to escape the slaughter perpetrated against them by Pope Innocent III. In the woods around here, you can still see the ruined remains of Cathar castle, where the migrants resisted attack until 1229. In this sparsely populated area, the **wolf has found an abundance of prey** to feast on, mainly roe deer and wild boar, thus its presence (as often happens when it has natural prey to satisfy it) has remained largely unnoticed. Even today, we don't know exactly how many wolf packs live in the region, but there is also no evidence of conflict with the farmers. However, there is no doubt that the species is continuing its **advance east**.   ![farmers predators almo nature alpi sierra nevada orso lupo](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/3-_MG_0546-new-mod-UN-rit-1024x683-Jan-03-2022-12-20-35-84-PM.jpg) The Apennine wolf arrived in the Pyrenees before the Spanish one   What is indeed surprising, is that the **Italian wolf** has secured such a firm foothold in these mountains while the **Spanish wolf** has not had the same success despite the much shorter distances that separate its large populations in northwestern Spain from the Pyrenees. **We will talk about this more in the next episode…**   ## From France to Spain Our journey passes from the eastern Pyrenees to the central Pyrenees. Still, in France, we stop at the **Col de Latrape**, attracted by a magnificent  **Pyrenean shepherd dog** dozing on the veranda of a bar-restaurant.   ![farmers predators almo nature alpi sierra nevada orso lupo](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/7-_5210349-1200px-225x300-Jan-03-2022-12-20-33-01-PM.jpg) A beautiful example of the Pyrenean Shepherd dog   In this region, farming, primarily cattle farming, is still thriving. But at the end of May, when we visited, the herds of cattle have not yet arrived: they will arrive in June. 
And besides, our "patou" (what the locals call the Pyrenean Sheepdog) is now too old to accompany the herds, and is enjoying retirement.   Here, it is evident the predator friendly practice of using livestock guardian dogs has not been lost, as had happened in the [Mercantour](https://www.almonature.com/en_GB/blog/farmers-and-predators-from-the-alps-to-sierra-nevada-the-mercantour/?hsLang=en-ca), with the problems that brought. ![farmers predators almo nature alpi sierra nevada orso lupo](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/4-_5210365-1200px-1024x768-Jan-03-2022-12-20-37-36-PM.jpg) Visitor notice: the "patou" watch over the flock Truth be told, there is a specific reason **farmers in the region use livestock guardian dogs**: although **the wolf has not yet arrived in the central Pyrenees, the bear has – and it has come from Slovenia of all places**! | ![](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/11-Bear-018-1200px-1-1.jpg) Brown Bear (Ursus arctos), a fight between young at night, South Carpathian mountains, Romania | ![](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/12-Bear-004-1200px-1-1.jpg) Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) rubbing agaist trees, South Carpathian mountains, Romania | | --- | --- | ## "Yes to the bear" ![farmers predators almo nature alpi sierra nevada orso lupo](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/9-_5210439-1200px-300x225-Jan-03-2022-12-20-29-42-PM.jpg) The "d'antan" bear, captured and chained There are no indigenous bears here anymore. In fact, in the small museum of the [Hospice de France](http://There%20are%20no%20indigenous%20bears%20here%20anymore.%20In%20fact,%20in%20the%20small%20museum%20of%20the%20Hospice%20de%20France,%20I%20find%20a%20faded%20photo%20of%20a%20bear%20chained%20and%20being%20fed%20dated%201952,%20perhaps%20one%20of%20the%20last.%20I%20am%20told%20that%20around%20fifty%20bears%20(similar%20to%20numbers%20occupying%20the%20National%20Park%20of%20Abruzzo%20and%20Trentino),%20were%20imported%20from%20Slovenia%20as%20a%20result%20of%20a%20French-Spanish%20wildlife%20reintroduction%20program.?hsLang=en-ca), I find a faded photo of a bear chained and being fed dated 1952, perhaps one of the last...? I am told that around fifty bears (similar to numbers occupying the National Park of Abruzzo and Trentino), were imported from Slovenia as a result of a French-Spanish wildlife reintroduction program. ![farmers predators almo nature alpi sierra nevada orso lupo](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/8-_5210311-1200px-225x300-Jan-03-2022-12-20-36-13-PM.jpg) Graffiti in support of the bear   In general, farmers in the region are **more opposed to the ** **bear** than the wolf; I remember there was a lot of conflict in the past, but now, all seems calm: we even came across some graffiti in support of the bears, saying:  ***"oui a l'ours" ("Yes to the bear")***. We cross the French-Spanish border through the Bielsa Tunnel, between Gavarnie and Mount Perdido. These woods, mountains and canyons are an ideal setting for the Apennine Wolf. But has it arrived yet? ![farmers predators almo nature alpi sierra nevada orso lupo](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/14-_5230553-1200px-1024x768-Jan-03-2022-12-20-33-94-PM.jpg) The village of Torla against the backdrop of the Ordesa Spanish National Park   On the road that leads to the  **Ordesa** valley, at the heart of the [Ordesa national park](https://ordesa.net/), I find a small herd of cows on their way to the high pastures. The herder says, "there are no wolves in Ordesa”. | ![](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/15-_5240750-1200px-1-1.jpg) | ![](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/16-_5240774-1200px-1-1.jpg) | | --- | --- | " *They will come, they will come ...*" I think, while photographing a chamois grazing in the early morning light at the edge of the road where the herd has just passed. ![farmers predators almo nature alpi sierra nevada orso lupo](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/17-_5232382-1200px-768x1024-Jan-03-2022-12-20-29-96-PM.jpg) A Pyrenean chamois is changing from its winter coat to its summer coat     #### Related Articles [![Fondazione Capellino urges all humans to take responsibility for a better tomorrow in a new communications campaign.](https://blog.almonature.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Untitled_1_3_3-Jan-03-2022-12-17-49-22-PM.jpg) ](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/fondazione-capellino-new-campaign-humans-responsibility-for-a-better-tomorrow?hsLang=en-ca) Journal July 8,2018 ###### [Fondazione Capellino urges all humans to take responsibility for a better tomorrow in a new communications campaign.](https://blog.almonature.com/en-ca/fondazione-capellino-new-campaign-humans-responsibility-for-a-better-tomorrow?hsLang=en-ca)   ## **The future is our responsibility** **Humans are responsible for the future of the planet.By protecting biodiversity, we protect ourselves.**   Fondazione Capellino... 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