2008-03-20 13:15

Bieszczady Mountains: beware of bears!

A woman was brutally attacked by a bear in the area of the Solina Lake in Bieszczady Mountains. She was taken to hospital in Ustrzyki Dolne. Doctors say that her condition is satisfactory. The inhabitant of Teleśnica (Sub-Carpathian region) was attacked while on a walk with her husband in the forest.

According to Dariusz Zaletański from Brzegi Dolne Forestry, this is the first such attack in a few years in this area. "In previous years, such attacks occurred in the area of Lutowiska, in the Otryt range. Each time it was most probably the same bear" - he added.

Zaletański explained that at this time of year, when bears are waking from hibernation, it is extremely important to watch out, especially for female bears. "Female bears go out with their young, which were born in the winter. It is their first step into the outside world. Any human presence may be treated as a threat to the young. It is difficult to say whether it was so in this case" - Zaletański noted.

The beginning of March is a time when deer lose their antlers and locals go out to search for them, even deep into the forest, which opens the possibility of encountering a bear. Searching for antlers was the most common cause of encountering bears in Lutowiska.

"We should be extremely careful in the coming two months, when spring is in full swing, as at this point, bears are out searching for food. Nevertheless, in Bieszczady, it is necessary to be cautious the whole year round" - Zaletański noted.

There are over 100 bears in Bieszczady - the largest population in Poland. Adult specimens weigh up to 300 kg and live up to 50 years. HUK

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland, tr.ajfb

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