Deadly bear attacks are rattling Russian Siberia. Why now? | CNN

Bears have entered populated areas across more than 40 Russian regions this year, but Krasnoyarsk in central Siberia has recorded the worst toll. CNN reports at least seven people were killed there in September alone after incidents including a bear attack that killed a 51-year-old woman stepping outside her home. The rise in fatal encounters comes amid a wider spike: CNN’s tally cites at least 16 deaths across Russia in September, while the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment says Russia usually sees 20 to 30 attacks annually. Biologists link the pattern to a poor autumn crop of pine nuts and berries, plus wildfires reducing habitat, pushing bears toward human areas.