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Bear attacks in Slovakia and calls for population management

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2026-09-17 14:29 UTC → 2026-09-17 14:55 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Following a series of violent encounters in mid-2026, including attacks on a hunter, a cyclist, and a man near Turany, bear activity in Slovakia remains a significant public safety concern. In late August, authorities in the Liptov region issued new warnings near Závažná Poruba due to continued sightings. Minister of Tourism and Sports Rudolf Huliak criticized the Ministry of Environment for the slow pace of population management, noting that ten attacks have occurred this year and highlighting a case where a man was hospitalized in a medically induced coma. By early September, a new attack was reported in a densely forested area, prompting the State Nature Conservancy to deploy response teams, install photo traps, and set up warning signs. In response to the escalating conflicts, the Slovak government has approved a proposal to cull 350 bears. On September 9, a brown bear attack in the Zobrakov locality within the Orava region resulted in a person being hospitalized. The State Nature Conservancy reported the incident occurred in dense undergrowth, and the FATRA Intervention Team is currently monitoring the area. Additionally, a bear was reported in the Demänová area near Liptovský Mikuláš, leading authorities to urge visitors to stick to marked trails. Official data indicates that intervention teams have shot 28 bears in the first seven months of the year. On September 15, a brown bear attacked a 79-year-old woman, a botanist, in the village square of Blatnica. The woman sustained scratches to her arm and was treated at a hospital in Martin before being released. The incident, captured on municipal security cameras, prompted the FATRA intervention team to begin monitoring the area using thermal imaging drones. Environmental groups noted that bears are often drawn to human settlements by accessible food sources, such as unsecured trash or livestock feed.

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