Since the beginning of 2026, bears in Russia have been responsible for at least 20 fatal attacks on humans, with 7 occurring just in September. The majority of these incidents have been reported in the Krasnoyarsk region, where victims include loggers, mushroom pickers, and a hockey coach.
Statistics of Bear Attacks
According to Reuters, bears have attacked humans in at least 11 regions of Russia. The most recent incident occurred in Siberia, where a 51-year-old woman was killed by a predator in her own garden. These incidents are raising concerns among local residents and authorities.
Reasons for the Increase in Attacks
Biologists attribute the rise in bear attacks on humans to climate change and food shortages. Warmer winters have led to an increase in the brown bear population in Russia, which has more than doubled from approximately 130,000 in 1990 to over 300,000 today. This results in bears increasingly venturing into populated areas in search of food.
Government Response
In response to these events, measures are being taken to ensure public safety:
- A curfew has been introduced in Baikal.
- Mass events have been restricted in the Tomsk region.
- A state of heightened readiness has been declared in several regions due to bear incursions.
Additionally, in the Krasnoyarsk region, local hunters are paid 36,500 rubles for each bear they kill, which further indicates the seriousness of the situation.