Brown bear surprises two hunters in Carinthia

Two hunters, Josef Meiritsch and his nephew Hartwig, experienced a close encounter with a brown bear in the Gailtal region of Carinthia, Austria. While searching for wild boar on a Saturday evening, the pair was surprised by a large bear that approached them within 20 meters.

According to reports, the bear stood up on its hind legs, reaching an estimated height of nearly three meters. The hunters prepared for a self-defense shot, as brown bears are protected species in Carinthia unless a person is in immediate, life-threatening danger. Fortunately, the bear eventually turned away and no shots were fired.

This incident marks the second time Meiritsch has encountered a brown bear within a three-month period.