On March 21, in the Malá Fatra mountains near Bratislava, Slovakia, a European brown bear attacked a man who was hiking with his dog. The bear was reported to have had cubs with her. Mr. Piotr was carrying a mid-sized axe, which was used to clear brush and trim limbs.
The axe appears similar to what we would have called a “cruiser” axe, about a 3/4-sized axe with a single-bit head. Mr. Piotr casually swings the axe as he walks along. It is something this correspondent often did while walking through the forest over 50 years ago. An axe is a very useful tool for clearing trails. This axe is much bigger and more capable than a typical hatchet.
The dog is fair-sized and fast but does not seem interested in closing with the bear. Mr. Piotr uses a medium-sized tree as cover while swinging the axe one-handed. It appears Mr. Piotr hit the bear with the axe twice. The first time, the bear retreated perhaps 20 yards, then came back fast. Mr. Piotr seems to be fumbling to get at bear spray on his hip but quickly makes ready with the axe as the bear charges. The second time, Mr. Piotr appears to have landed a solid blow on the bear’s head. The bear runs off, with the dog in pursuit. Mr. Piotr belatedly sprays bear spray in the direction of the fleeing bear and dog.
The video is said to have been captured by a trail camera.
