Bear attacks in Slovakia

In late July 2026, a hunter in northern Slovakia was seriously injured near Liptovská Porúbka after being charged and bitten by a female bear. The victim required helicopter evacuation and surgery.

On August 8, a 55-year-old cyclist was injured in Valčianska dolina near Martin when a bear knocked him off his bicycle. Despite bite and laceration wounds, the man reached nearby cottages to call for help and was transported to the University Hospital in Martin for surgery. While the man remains in stable condition, the Fatra Brown Bear Intervention Team and police were unable to identify the bear. Officials noted the attack occurred on a private forest road where cycling is prohibited.

In a separate incident near the D1 highway exit at Turany, a 42-year-old man was found with severe chest and head injuries suspected to be from a bear attack. Following this attack, specialized intervention teams used thermal imaging drones to locate and shoot the responsible bear mother and her two young cubs to mitigate further public risk.

In the nearby Rajecká dolina region, authorities reported other dangerous bear encounters involving a car and cyclists. Investigations revealed that illegal biological waste, such as spoiled corn and cattle entrails, had been left near a cycling path, attracting the animals.

The Fatra Brown Bear Intervention Team and local police are actively monitoring these areas and have advised residents and tourists to exercise extreme caution. These incidents occur amid reports of a rise in bear encounters; the Ministry of Environment has previously authorized the culling of up to 350 bears due to rising human-wildlife conflicts, though environmentalists have expressed concerns that such measures could threaten protected populations.