Bear attack above the municipality of Višňové

2. May 2023

Today (1 May), around half past seven in the morning, a bear attacked a forester and a hunter in the area locally known as Zadné pole near the municipality of Višňové in Žilina district. The men were searching the grove as they were looking for a shot wild boar. The bear first attacked the forester and, later, it attacked the hunter, who fired at the bear. Both men were treated by the University Hospital in Žilina and their lives are not in danger. One of the men is still in the hospital for observation.

The Brown Bear Intervention Team of the State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic (SNC SR Intervention Team) inspected the site later in the afternoon together with a hunting farmer, two members of the Hunting Society Vrchy and a hunting dog. Present during this inspection was also one of the wounded men who were attacked. The search of the site of the attack – the grove between the locations known as Predné and Zadné pole – was probably used by the bear as a resting place. The inspection revealed the signs confirming the presence of the large carnivore. The site is located approximately 800 m from the municipality of Višňové.

Photo: Jaroslav Slašťan, SNC SR Brown Bear Intervention Team

Members of the SNC SR Brown Bear Intervention Team notified the Slovak Police Force as well as the mayor of the municipality about the attack and requested that the municipal authorities in Višňové as well as in the surrounding municipalities alert their citizens to be more cautious in the areas around the Predné and Zadné Pole locations. As it was likely that the bear had been wounded, it may be aggressive and dangerous for passers-by. The SNC SR Intervention Team is monitoring the area of the attack in order to prevent any further encounters. After the attacking animal is tracked down, it will be euthanised. The Intervention Team will be tracking the bear in cooperation with the hunters from the local hunting association.

Further detailed information about the activities of the SNC SR Intervention Team, as well as recommendations on how to act in the case of a bear encounter, are available on the SNC SR Brown Bear Intervention Team’s website https://zasahovytim.sopsr.sk/ or at https://www.sopsr.sk/medved.