A Female Bear Rips Part of a Car Off with a Single Bite

Roadside sighting spots for brown bears in countries such as Romania have become very dangerous attractions for tourists and local residents who approach these locations and have conditioned the predators with easy food.

In the latest incident, which took place just a few days ago, several vehicles stopped when they saw a female bear with several cubs. They were on the troublesome DN7C Transfăgărășan road. When the driver realized that the animal was attacking his car and tearing off the rear bumper, he tried to move forward. But this only made the outcome worse.

A ‘hotspot’ for brown bear sightings

The main conflicts between tourists and brown bears on roads in Romania are concentrated on the same DN7C Transfăgărășan road, especially along the Arefu–Poenari–Vidraru stretch, in Argeș County. It is one of the places in Europe where spotting bears from the roadside has become a tourist attraction.

The Transfăgărășan (DN7C) crosses the Făgăraș Mountains and reaches an altitude of around 2,034 metres. On its southern side, in Argeș County, there is a particularly problematic stretch between Arefu, Poenari Castle and the Vidraru dam/lake.

Reports collected in recent years place an extraordinary concentration of bears precisely here, where they remain beside the road waiting for food from drivers. A 2024 report described between 15 and 17 bears observed during a single journey, especially between Poenari Castle and Vidraru dam.

This has brought reporters from major news organizations there. For example, this August 2026, Reuters documented that at least 20 bears appeared beside the road within just three hours, approaching vehicles whose occupants fed them or tried to take photos with them.

Attacks on the curious

Although bears may look like charming creatures patiently waiting for the food tourists throw to them, they have carried out serious attacks on those who become overconfident. For example, in April 2024, a Scottish tourist was attacked while photographing a female bear caring for several cubs. Moira Gallacher and her companion saw a female bear with a cub beside the road. The tourist lowered the window to take a closer photograph. The bear approached the vehicle and bit Gallacher’s arm. The woman had to be taken to hospital. The thick jacket she was wearing helped reduce the severity of her injuries.

Exactly one year later, three people spending their holidays in the European country were attacked within a span of just 24 hours. On 27 May 2025, a 77-year-old Polish tourist tried to feed the bear from inside the vehicle. The animal bit him on the forearm and abdomen, so he had to receive medical attention. A few hours later, a 74-year-old Spanish tourist wanted to photograph the bear with the window down. She put her arm out to take the picture and the animal attacked her, causing injuries to one hand. Something similar happened to a 53-year-old German visitor.

Almost anecdotal compared with the fatal case recorded on 4 July of the same year, 2025. Omar Farang Zin, a 48-year-old Italian, stopped his motorcycle, attracted by the presence of brown bears. He offered them food and began a ‘deadly’ photo session, even though there was a sign a few metres away prohibiting it. Authorities later found his phone, which contained images taken shortly before the attack. The bear eventually attacked him and dragged him down a slope for around 80 metres, causing his death. When the authorities went to recover the body, they faced attempts by the same bear to attack them, and the animal was shot.

This year, a Bulgarian tourist was involved in a similar incident, stopping his car beside a female bear accompanied by a cub. They began feeding her to film the scene, and it was not long before the female bear put her head through the window and bit the man repeatedly. He had to undergo surgery on his left arm. He also received a substantial fine.