Bears are searching for food in garbage bins and also visiting residents’ properties in the village.

Recently, an encounter occurred between a bear and an elderly woman in Krasnaya Polyana. When the bear visited an apple orchard, the woman decided that the best defense was offense. The encounter ended without casualties, but animal visits don’t always end well.

Bears primarily inhabit the eastern part of the country. They can be seen wandering right in cities like Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Chelyabinsk, Magadan, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and Khabarovsk. This autumn, predators have frequently become uninvited guests in Krasnaya Polyana.

Garbage bins are mainly the objects of attention for bears. Scientists explain that bears are currently preparing for hibernation, searching for delicacies in dumps, and accumulating fat. Meanwhile, the predators have become bolder and aren’t even afraid of loud noises.

“When a female bear approaches a populated area, her cub follows her and instinctively begins to adopt foolish behaviors from her habits. By the time they go into hibernation, they must gain at least one-third of their weight in fat,” explains a biological sciences expert.

All bears except polar bears hibernate. Currently, there are approximately 450 individuals in the Caucasian Nature Reserve. Although Kuban is not the most popular habitat for bears, residents of the region should remember important rules in the forest.

“Never approach a bear. During a close encounter, you should make a loud noise and spread your arms wide,” says a hiking and trekking guide instructor.

In the coming months, bears in the region will still be active. As December approaches, encounters with people will become much less frequent.

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Krasnaya Polyana

Krasnaya Polyana is a mountain resort area in the Western Caucasus, near Sochi, Russia. Historically a small settlement, it was developed extensively as the host mountain cluster for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Today, it is a major year-round destination known for its ski resorts, alpine landscapes, and outdoor activities.

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is the main city and administrative center of Russia’s Kamchatka Krai, founded in 1740 by explorer Vitus Bering. It is one of the oldest cities in the Russian Far East and is historically significant as the site of a successful defense against Anglo-French forces during the Crimean War in 1854. Today, it serves as a major gateway for scientific expeditions and tourism to the Kamchatka Peninsula’s renowned volcanoes and wildlife.

Chelyabinsk

Chelyabinsk is an industrial city and administrative center in Russia, founded as a fortress in 1736 on the Miass River. It grew significantly in the 20th century due to its strategic importance for steel production and manufacturing, particularly during World War II. The city gained international attention in 2013 when a large meteor exploded in the atmosphere above it.

Magadan

Magadan is a port city in the Russian Far East, founded in 1929 as the main administrative center of the Kolyma Gulag labor camps. Its history is profoundly tied to the Soviet prison system, serving as a transit point for prisoners sent to work in the region’s gold mines. Today, it is a major commercial fishing port and a gateway to the Kolyma region.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is the administrative capital and largest city on Sakhalin Island, Russia. Its modern history began as a Japanese settlement called Toyohara after the southern part of the island was ceded to Japan in 1905, following the Russo-Japanese War. The city was renamed and returned to Soviet control after World War II, and it now serves as the industrial and cultural hub for the island’s oil and gas industry.

Khabarovsk

Khabarovsk is a major city and administrative center in Russia’s Far East, founded as a military outpost in 1858 and named after the explorer Yerofey Khabarov. It is historically significant for its role in Russian expansion into the region and is known for its scenic location on the banks of the Amur River.

Caucasian Nature Reserve

The Caucasian Nature Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Western Caucasus mountains of Russia. Established in 1924, it is one of the oldest and largest protected areas in the country, created to preserve the region’s unique mountain ecosystems. It is particularly noted for its population of European bison, which were successfully reintroduced after being nearly hunted to extinction.

Kuban

Kuban is a historical and geographical region located in southern Russia, centered around the Kuban River. It was traditionally inhabited by Circassian peoples before becoming a Cossack settlement in the late 18th century, following its conquest by the Russian Empire. Today, it is known for its agricultural fertility and as a cultural heartland of the Kuban Cossacks.