A bear has taken up residence in a woman’s home in the quiet lakeside village of Mavrochori, near Kastoria in northern Greece, turning a personal nightmare into a public concern. The animal—believed to be a young, unaccompanied bear—has been freely entering and exiting the house, rummaging for food, causing damage, and refusing to leave, prompting locals to urge authorities to take immediate action.
“It’s been two days since it last showed up, but I’ve been told it will return,” the homeowner told MEGA. “They told me it’s not going anywhere. It’s a serious issue, even though there is humor to it.”
The woman explained that she’s now to leave her house when the bear is nearby, and equally afraid to come home if she’s out. “I can’t go outside. It’s not aggressive, but I was warned not to feed it, or it will never leave,” she said. In past encounters, she even resorted to banging pots and pans just to scare the bear away and enter her home safely.
Although this particular bear hasn’t caused major destruction, the woman said that in previous years, bears did cause significant property damage in the area. “Last year there were damages. This one hasn’t done anything yet—it didn’t find much,” she added.
A Widespread Problem in the Village
The issue is not isolated. According to the homeowner, at least 20 bears are known to roam the village and surrounding areas, making it increasingly difficult for residents to feel safe in their own homes.
What makes the situation more complex is the village’s location. Mavrochori sits on the shore of Lake Kastoria, not near any forest or mountainous terrain. “The village is lakeside—there are no mountains. The bears come down to the lake to swim,” she explained, highlighting the unusual nature of the bear’s presence.
Local officials are now moving to address the issue. Authorities have acknowledged the growing bear presence and have promised to hold an emergency meeting in the coming days to decide on necessary measures.
