Of the forest animals, it is bears that Swedish people are most frightened of meeting. This is shown by an attitude survey that researchers at the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, SLU, have carried out.
Four surveys during the last century have shown that almost one half of Swedish people (between 16 and 65) are frightened of bears. In 1980 Swedish people were most frightened of moose, but by no means as frightened as people are now frightened of bears. Next to bears it is wild boars and wolves, in that order, that frighten people.
Those responding considered that it is acceptable to hunt to prevent predators coming in to densely populated areas, to reduce the risk of domesticated animals being taken, and to some extent because people are frightened.