A 58-year-old woman has been killed by a brown bear in a remote forest in southeastern Poland, authorities and her family confirmed. The attack occurred in the Bieszczady region near the town of Płonna, where Poland's small population of around 100 brown bears is concentrated.
According to the woman's 27-year-old son, the two were walking separately in the woods collecting antlers during the stag shedding season. While on the phone, the son heard her scream, "Bear, bear!" before the call went dead. He immediately alerted emergency services, but responders found the woman dead with severe head injuries.
Firefighters and police reached the scene around 10:30 AM local time, though difficult terrain and poor phone reception slowed their access. A local firefighter described the woman's injuries as "lacerated and extensive."
Bukowsko Commune, the local government body, posted on social media urging residents to avoid nearby forests due to the fatal attack. Poland has rarely seen deadly bear encounters; the last such incident was in 2014.
A district prosecutor and a doctor examined the scene on Thursday. Prosecutor Izabela Jurkowska-Hanus stated that no other cause of death was suspected.
Wildlife experts noted that bears emerging from winter hibernation are drawn to areas near human settlements in search of food. "This was an unexpected encounter for both the bear and the human," said Wojciech Jankowski, a spokesman for the Lesko Forest District.
The victim's second son told reporters he believes his mother accidentally stepped on the bear, which struck without escape.
Deadly bear attacks in Poland remain extremely rare, as most brown bears inhabit the Bieszczady region and generally avoid humans.