A livestock farmer in the Regional Unit of Kozani came face to face with a bear weighing approximately 100 to 120 kilograms. The bear attack incident caused intense concern as announced by the local Hunting Association. According to the report, the incident occurred on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, when a livestock farmer performing work outside his livestock facility encountered a brown bear weighing approximately 100 to 120 kilograms.
Kozani: Man managed to repel the bear
The man, maintaining his composure, managed to repel the animal using a stick, causing the bear to retreat from the area. No injuries occurred from the incident, and there were no livestock losses.
According to the farmer himself, who has experience from similar encounters in the past, the animal appears to have been startled by the human presence and reacted defensively. Based on assessments, this was most likely a “mock” or “false attack,” behavior that bears often use to intimidate and remove potential threats from their territory.
Warning from Kozani Hunting Association
The Kozani Hunting Association emphasizes that the increased presence of brown bears near human activities requires special attention, especially after the recent fatal incident on Mount Vitosha in Bulgaria, near Sofia.
At the same time, basic protection rules are reminded for bear encounters, such as avoiding panic, calm retreat without running, and attempting to make human presence known through voices or whistling. In the same Association post, a video recorded on April 3 by a member was published, showing a bear moving near agricultural areas in the broader Kozani region.
