In Siberia, There Really is a Bear in the Woods – and This Spring, He’s Hungry

Paul Goble

            Staunton, May 24 – Because Siberia has had a cold spring this year, bears who normally could find enough food in the woods are coming into villages and towns, attacking and eating livestock, and even threatening human beings. As a result, local officials have issued instructions on what to do if one must go into the woods or near them.

            The best strategy for keeping the bears at bay, Omsk officials say, is to behave “as loudly as possible, making noise in genera and shouting.”  Moreover, they add, don’t approach dead animals as bears may come back; or if one encounters a bear, don’t turn your back on him (flashsiberia.com/news/omichey-poprosili-ne-shumet-v-lesu-chtoby-ne-draznit-golodnyh-medvedey).

            According to local media, however, there have been numerous sightings of marauding  bears and at least some attacks on people.  The Siberian Times reports one incident in which a bear chased two young men up into a tree where they were finally able to get a cell signal and call for help (siberiantimes.com/other/others/news/angry-bear-chases-lost-siberians-up-a-tree-enabling-them-to-get-cell-phone-signal-to-call-police/).