Brown Bear
The brown bear is the largest of all Swedish predators. Even though it is classified as a predator it is more of an omnivore who eats roots, plants and berries as well as ants, moose and deer. Males can weigh up to 200 kilograms whilst females are smaller and can weigh up to 150 kilograms.
The bear is surrounded by myths and legends and appears in art, literature and folklore. According to folklore, a hunter should avoid looking straight into the eyes of a bear. If not, the hunter could be stricken with something called “bear ague”, Sw: “Björnfrossa” which resulted in paralysation.
During the 19th century, the legendary bear hunter Llewellyn Lloyd, was a frequent hunter in these parts of the region. According to legend, Lloyd is said to have brought down 102 bears in only 30 years. The last hunt for bears in these regions was held in 1838 at a place called Skogsäter in Väne Ryr. Two bears were brought down and Lloyd was praised. Nearly ten years after, Lloyd completed his last bear hunt in Värmland.
When hunting bears one could use shears or, during winter time, chase the bear from its hibernation. However, it was also quite common to gather a lot of men who walked in a line and thus, forced the bear in a certain direction where hunters would be waiting to bring it down. Such gatherings could include up to 4000 men. Due to extensive hunting in the region during the 19th century, bears disappeared from Götaland.
