Kamchatka Brown Bears Emerge from Hibernation – Residents Urged to Stay Vigilant

Kamchatka is experiencing a mass emergence of brown bears from their dens, prompting local authorities to warn residents to exercise caution when in forested or open areas, reports *Kamchatka-Info*.

"Ahead of the May holidays, a large number of brown bears are leaving their dens. In response, the Kamchatka Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife is actively monitoring the bear population. There have already been reports of bears approaching residential areas. I urge residents to remain especially vigilant during the holidays and avoid entering forests or near rivers at night, when bears are most active. If a bear is spotted, immediately call emergency services at 112. Specialists from the Ministry will track the animal’s location and take necessary measures to scare it away or relocate it," said Sergey Tyulkin, Deputy Chairman of the regional government.

Safety guidelines include:

• Do not leave food or trash in nature.

• Avoid habituating wild animals to human presence.

• Do not take independent action if encountering a bear.

• Report any bear sightings in populated areas to emergency services at 112 or the Unified Emergency Dispatch Service (303-111).