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Places that are named after bears are spread over the whole of Carinthia and the rest of Austria. Although not all of these names derive directly from a former presence of brown bears (Ursus arctos), other historical data such as hunting statistics and bone collections confirm that there were bears living in all areas of Austria, including Carinthia. The brown bear in Carinthia has not been extirpated and continues to survive. Bears continue to travel to Carinthia along a 300-km corridor from the bear range of Slovenia and Croatia. Presently there are an estimated 12 bears in Carinthia and the surrounding area. They do not seem to depend on domestic livestock or beehives, but prefer natural foods. The amount of damage caused by bears is not high, averaging approximately $5,000/year during 1990-95. Reproduction was observed 3 times from 1989 to 1995 (2 cubs in 1989, 1 in 1990, 1 in 1995). If these bears are not cut off from the source population in Slovenia and Croatia and if negative public attitude present in other Austrian bear areas (2 bears were shot in 1994) does not spread to Carinthia, there is a realistic chance for the survival of this small bear population. There is an urgent need for a bear management plan for all areas of Austrian bear range.