Warning! Bears!
Two bear attacks on people were reported in July in Bircza Forest District. Earlier, such incidents also took place in Bieszczady. Foresters are warning against the consequences that may be brought by such encounters with the predator.
In one case, a female bear leading her two younglings attacked a lumberjack who was working in Leszczyny forestry unit (Fredropol municipality). On his retreat, the man defended himself with a running motor saw. During the incident, the bear, still roaring, followed the logger retreating to his car.
A woman collecting mushrooms in the vicinity of Lipa (Bircza municipality) also experienced moments of horror caused by bear attack. The woman took refuge on a nearby tree. The bear tried to climbed it, fortunately ineffective.
In July, Forest Service workers and hunters repeatedly saw bears in the forests of Bircza Forest District: both the mother with two younglings and single individuals. It is estimated that there are 10 bears in the area of this particular forest district, so the meeting with predator is very likely there. Close encounters also took place in the valley of the upper San, fortunately people escaped them with no harm.
In general bears avoid people, however being surprised by man’s presence they can be extremely dangerous. This is why, one should take special care in the forest. In the woodlands where bears are active, the warning boards appeared informing about meeting them. Foresters advise how to behave in such a situation.
‘Only calm and keeping common sense’ – says forester Kazimierz Nóżka of Baligród Forest District. ‘Let’s avoid panic-stricken behaviour such as escape, you should even pretend that you don’t know fear at all. Such my behaviour made bears go away into the darkness of the forest, and I was able to deal with my daily work. So keep calm!’
At present there are about 200 bears living in the forest of RDSF in Krosno, mainly in the Bieszczady but also in the Beskid Niski and in the Przemyskie Foothills. In the last half-century their population has increased almost tenfold.
