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Now you must be rubbing your eyes.

 

Are there really bears here? No, the animals are no longer found in the Black Forest, but they have left many traces in the culture of the region with their thick paws. Thus, you will find many inns called "bears" here, as well as fountains and squares.

 

Also worth mentioning is the Bärental Valley not far from the Feldberg. It is known not least for its abundance of snow in winter, which can sometimes become a problem for traffic. How the valley got its name, however, cannot be clarified. There is also a "Bärhalde" with some bogs near the Feldberg.

 

Since 1120, Freiburg has had the "red bear", an inn that boasts of being the oldest in all of Germany.

 

The bear is the largest land predator on earth. The quadruped with the muscular back and stubby tail can grow up to 1.5 meters high and weigh a maximum of 250 kilos, although there are also much smaller specimens. Bears eat not only meat, but also berries, grasses as well as honey, which they steal from beehives. In the Black Forest, as well as in Europe in general, the brown bear was native. He, like all bears, can climb and swim well. In summer and autumn he has to eat a layer of fat, which he needs for the winter. In the cold season it hibernates and therefore cannot look for food.

 

Unlike lynx and beaver, the brown bear is unlikely to return to the Black Forest, as its presence would cause too many problems. After all, an adult animal is potentially dangerous to humans. Only a few years ago there was "Bruno, the problem bear", which caused a big fuss in Bavaria and had to be shot in the end.