Bear Wanders Municipal Roads in Szerzyny, Poland, Officials Issue Safety Warning

For the second consecutive night, a brown bear was observed moving along municipal and county roads in the Szerzyny municipality of the Małopolska region. Wójt Grzegorz Gotfryd reported that between 02:30 and 03:10 the animal travelled on the local road in Nagórz Północny, then turned onto a county road toward Ołpiny before heading south toward Średni and Podlesie Szerzyńskie.

Gotfryd warned that the bear, which is in its rutting season, makes characteristic grunting sounds that may increase aggression. He urged residents to exercise caution during forest walks, to make their presence known with loud conversation, avoid leaving food waste, and not approach the animal. Any sightings, tracks or evidence should be reported to the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Kraków. The wójt also asked the public not to spread AI‑generated fake photos or videos that could misinform the community.

The warning follows an April incident in the nearby forest near Płonna, where a 58‑year‑old woman was killed in a bear attack. That case is under investigation by the Sanok district prosecutor’s office.