Andorra Rangers Spot 3 Brown Bears and Expanding Pyrenean Goats in High Mountains

Forest rangers in Andorra have documented four separate instances of brown bears in high mountain areas since hibernation ended, with evidence pointing to only three distinct individuals. The sightings, captured mainly by camera traps on northern slopes between La Massana and Ordino, include multiple footprints exposed by snowmelt. Rangers from Andorra Natura d'Animals (ANA) believe one bear accounts for more than one record, aided by photos submitted by hikers.

No scat samples were obtained, but collected hair samples will undergo laboratory analysis by late June to verify the precise number of bears passing through the Principat this spring. Agents confirm none hibernated locally.

Meanwhile, Pyrenean wild goats—reintroduced elsewhere in the range—are expanding naturally into Andorra, with recent detections in areas like Comapedrosa, northern Ordino, and Siscaró. The species, extinct in the Pyrenees from intensive hunting, returned via French releases in 2014 using Iberian goats from Spain's Sierra de Gredos, selected for their close resemblance to the original Pyrenean stock lost in the 20th century. Spain followed with releases in Vall d'Aran in 2015. Andorra performed no introductions but recorded a male-female pair in 2015, two young males in 2021, further observations in 2022, and another young male in 2025.

Ferran Teixidó, head of the rangers, highlighted the goats' adaptation to steep cliffs thanks to specialized hooves, allowing them to graze high meadows and lichens in spring. This occupies distinct niches, minimizing competition with native chamois (isard), unlike the more direct overlap between chamois and mouflon. Protected in Andorra and France, and huntable only in Catalonia, the goats could face population controls if numbers grow, Teixidó indicated. Their return bolsters Andorra's appeal for nature tourism, alongside species like marmots and capercaillie, though observers should maintain distance and stick to trails.