Fatal Bear Attack in Poland: A Tragic Encounter in the Bieszczady Region

Fri Apr 24 2026 03:59:56 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A woman was killed by a bear in Poland's Bieszczady National Park, prompting local authorities to warn residents about wildlife encounters. This rare incident has raised concerns over human-wildlife interactions in the area.

In a tragic incident in the Bieszczady region of Poland, a 58-year-old woman was killed by a bear while she was foraging in the forest with her son. The attack, which left her with severe injuries, was reported during a phone call where her son heard her scream for help. Local authorities have since advised against entering the forest areas to prevent further incidents. The rising bear population poses increased risks, although deadly encounters remain rare, with the last reported case occurring in 2014.

A 58-year-old woman has been killed by a bear in a remote mountainous area in Poland, according to her son and the local government.

The incident took place when the woman and her 27-year-old son were walking separately in a forest near the town of Płonna in the south-eastern Bieszczady region.

A firefighter at the scene told news channel TVN24 that according to the woman's son, he was on the phone to her when he heard her scream, Bear, bear! and the phone went dead. The son raised the alert but by the time emergency services arrived the woman was dead.

The firefighter reported that the woman had lacerated and extensive head injuries.

Bukowsko Commune urged people in the area to refrain from entering nearby forest areas due to the fatal bear attack on a woman in Płonna in a social media post.

Poland is home to around 100 brown bears, with most living in Bieszczady. Deadly encounters between humans and the animals are extremely rare, with the last recorded lethal attack taking place in 2014.

Paweł Giba, a spokesman for the local emergency services, stated that firefighters received the call from the son around 10:30 local time (08:30 GMT). Fire crews and police were dispatched, but access to the site was hampered by difficult terrain and a lack of phone reception.

According to local police officer, Sgt. Anna Oleniacz, the bear attacked just as the son had momentarily stepped away from where his mother was. By the time he returned and saw her injuries, he immediately called for help.

The victim's second son speculated, She must have stepped on it. When a bear lies down, it's like a mound of dark earth. Once it hits, there's no escape. A prosecutor and a doctor were at the scene later that day.

Reports indicate that the mother and son were in the woods collecting antlers during the stag shedding season.

Wojciech Jankowski, a spokesman for the Lesko Forest District, warned that bears awakening from their winter sleep often wander into human-populated areas in search of food, making encounters likely. This was an unexpected encounter for both the bear and the human, he stated.