Bear on the loose: Increasing attacks in Italy's Trentino region
Another bear attack on a person has been reported in the northern Italian region of Trentino. A 31-year-old man was attacked while picking mushrooms alone. Fortunately, the mushroom picker managed to escape.
The municipal employee had ventured alone into the forest by Lake Garda to collect mushrooms. According to the police, a bear suddenly attacked him from behind. The animal struck him several times with its paws and then disappeared into the woods.
The man sustained injuries to his back and arms but managed to escape and reach a nearby village, where he alerted the authorities. Authorities now plan to identify the bear using DNA traces and euthanize it.
The Trentino region is home to over a hundred brown bears. Although they typically avoid contact with humans, dangerous encounters occur more frequently. Last year, near the village of Rango, a bear injured a French tourist; the animal was later euthanized. Also, last year, a 26-year-old runner died after a bear attack, and just a few days ago, a tourist was attacked while walking.
Bear attack in Italy
Experts predict that bears may soon settle in Germany as well. A female bear known as Gaia was captured alive and is set to be transferred to the Alternative Wolf and Bear Park in Bad Rippoldsau-Schapbach in the Black Forest, where she will find a new, species-appropriate environment.
Bear attacks also occur in Slovakia, where a man was recently killed in front of his wife. In Bavaria, experts are trying to confirm reports from soldiers about the alleged presence of a bear in the Ostallgäu district. This would be the first such sighting since May of last year if confirmed.
Specialists recommend staying calm and slowly retreating when encountering a brown bear. They also advise carrying bear spray in case of an attack and storing food in airtight, odourless containers to avoid attracting animals.
