Poland and Romania grapple with rising wolf and bear attacks on humans

In Poland, media reported a dramatic wolf bite of a man in the village of Niewistki, but wildlife expert Prof. Michał Żmihorski clarified that the animal was a dog, not a wolf. The incident sparked sensational headlines about wolves attacking people and raised public fear.

In Romania, the country’s large brown‑bear population is causing frequent human‑bear encounters. On the Transfăgărășan mountain road, about 20 bears approached drivers who were feeding them, despite warning signs. Bears now visit towns almost nightly, and nearly 30 people have been killed by bears in the past two decades. In response, Romanian authorities doubled the annual hunting quota to roughly 900 bears, a move criticized by experts who doubt it will reduce human‑bear conflicts.