Swede mauled in bear hunt gone wrong

A bear hunt between the towns of Ingels and Bingsjö in Dalarna, central Sweden, quickly took a turn for the worse on Thursday. A hunter suffered a rough encounter with a bear, sustaining severe injuries before the bear was brought down.

"It seems to have been a male bear," Stig-Åke Svenson, director of nature conservation in the country, told newspaper Expressen. 

The county administrative board has launched an investigation into the attack. 

"One of our inspectors has been there and spoken with the leader of the hunting group," said Svensson, who said it's still unclear precisely what happened.

The battered victim was take to the hospital in Mora, where he is being treated for severe although not life-threatening injuries.

Authorities issued a warning on Friday to help Swedes deal with potential bear attacks.

"Running is never a good idea, since it can trigger the bear's hunting instincts," Per Risberg, game official at the Environmental Protection Agency, told news agency TT. 

Risberg recommended making a great deal of noise, for instance by carrying kitchen cutlery on a belt, in order to deter bears and other dangerous animals. He also stressed that people should leave their dogs at home.

"Almost all dogs chase big game, and when the animal gets stressed and irritated the dog comes running back – with the bear on its tail."

Risberg added that the risk of being attacked by a bear are much higher when a dog is involved – so if you must bring your dog, "Never let it out of your sight."