Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The number of non-fatal attacks is much higher, according to experts.
In the remote Siberian settlement of Motygino, surrounded by dense forest, residents face daily visits from brown bears wandering through their streets, and local officials are struggling to drive the animals away.
“The situation is extremely tense. Bears are coming from various directions, several of them every day, and show absolutely no fear of people,” local resident Daria told news outlet 360.ru.
She added that the bears often return within forty minutes.
The problem spans entire regions. At least 19 people have died in brown bear attacks across Siberia and the Far East since April, according to a report by The Moscow Times.
Victims include Alexander Kuzmenko, father of an NHL player, who was killed while fishing in Tyva.
Government officials downplay the risk as normal seasonal behavior. Independent experts, however, describe the crisis as catastrophic.
Driven by hunger
Official stats from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry show Russia’s brown bear population has soared past 307,000, more than doubling since 1990. Milder winters allow more cubs to survive.
Wildfires and a poor harvest of pine nuts have stripped the taiga of food. Young bears are forced to search for meals near human settlements.
“Several factors are at play here, as is usually the case with such a complex problem. But overall, the number of bears is growing and their fear of humans is decreasing,” an anonymous wildlife expert told The Moscow Times.
A drop in hunting has worsened the threat. Without hunters, bold and aggressive animals survive and multiply.
No easy fix
For rural residents, the danger is right outside their doors. One local told The Moscow Times that five bears entered his yard over the past decade, including one that slept beside his beehive.
Regional authorities have imposed night curfews, restricted park access, and killed over 200 bears in August alone, according to the Forestry Ministry of Tyva. Yet experts warn that simple solutions like bear-proof trash cans are no longer enough.
“There is currently no alternative to shooting the bears,” the expert told The Moscow Times.
