Woman Dies in Polish Forest After Bear Attack, Local Officials Confirm Thursday
A 58-year-old woman died in a bear attack in a remote area of Poland's Bieszczady mountains, confirmed by her son and local government officials.
The incident occurred while the woman and her 27-year-old son were walking separately in a forest near Płonna. The son told emergency services he was speaking with his mother by phone when he heard her shout, “Bear, bear!” before the line disconnected. Emergency crews dispatched after his alert found the woman deceased with extensive head injuries.
The Bukowsko Commune subsequently advised residents via social media to avoid nearby forest areas following the fatal encounter. Poland is home to approximately 100 brown bears, primarily residing in the Bieszczady region. Such deadly interactions remain exceptionally rare; local media reports indicate the last recorded fatal attack in Poland was in 2014.
Firefighters received the son’s call around 10:30 local time (08:30 GMT), but challenging terrain and poor phone reception hindered access to the scene. A local police officer, Sgt Anna Oleniacz, stated the victim’s companion had momentarily stepped away when the bear attacked, returning to find her injured and then seeking help. Reports suggest the mother and son were in the woods collecting antlers.
Wojciech Jankowski, a spokesman for the Lesko Forest District, where the attack took place, explained, “At this time of year, bears that have awakened from their winter sleep come to places like this, close to human homes, in search of food. This was an unexpected encounter for both the bear and the human.” A prosecutor and doctor were present at the scene on Thursday afternoon, with the district prosecutor, Izabela Jurkowska-Hanus, confirming no other circumstances suggested a different cause of death.
