Built from a line of volcanoes, the Kuril Island chain stretches from the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia to northern Japan. In the northern Kurils, Paramushir Island is large, built by several volcanoes over a massive stretch of time.
The Kamchatka, or “Far Eastern” brown bear is known to inhabit the Kuril Islands, in addition to portions of far eastern Russia and the Kamchatka Peninsula. They are the largest of the Eurasian brown bears, stretching to nearly 8 feet in length and reaching weights above 1,500 pounds.
Bear attacks on humans are rare, but they can happen and they’re often serious or deadly. Keeping the animal calm is often the key to staying safe around grizzly bears. Chasing the animal on a snowmobile until it turns around and attempts to strike, as these Russian fishermen did, is not recommended.
Staying safe around grizzly bears means keeping plenty of space between you and the animal, in addition making sure you don’t startle it. In most cases, grizzly bears will avoid people if they hear them coming. If a bear notices you and is paying attention to you, you should identify yourself as a person and stand your ground while slowly waving your arms. Read more on grizzly bear encounter safety below.
National Park Service Bear Encounter Guidelines:
Once a bear has noticed you and is paying attention to you, additional strategies can help prevent the situation from escalating. Here are some general tips. However, please check recommendations for each park you visit: recommendations do vary from park to park based local bear behavior.
- Identify yourself by talking calmly so the bear knows you are a human and not a prey animal. Remain still; stand your ground but slowly wave your arms. Help the bear recognize you as a human. It may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better look or smell. A standing bear is usually curious, not threatening.
- Stay calm and remember that most bears do not want to attack you; they usually just want to be left alone. Bears may bluff their way out of an encounter by charging and then turning away at the last second. Bears may also react defensively by woofing, yawning, salivating, growling, snapping their jaws, and laying their ears back. Continue to talk to the bear in low tones; this will help you stay calmer, and it won’t be threatening to the bear. A scream or sudden movement may trigger an attack. Never imitate bear sounds or make a high-pitched squeal.
- Pick up small children immediately. Do not make any loud noises or screams—the bear may think it’s the sound of a prey animal. Slowly wave your arms above your head and tell the bear to back off. Do NOT run or make any sudden movements. Do not make any loud noises or screams—the bear may think it’s the sound of a prey animal.
- Hike and travel in groups. Groups of people are usually noisier and smellier than a single person. Therefore, bears often become aware of groups of people at greater distances, and because of their cumulative size, groups are also intimidating to bears.
- Make yourselves look as large as possible (for example, move to higher ground).
- Do NOT allow the bear access to your food. Getting your food will only encourage the bear and make the problem worse for others.
- Do NOT drop your pack as it can provide protection for your back and prevent a bear from accessing your food.
- If the bear is stationary, move away slowly and sideways; this allows you to keep an eye on the bear and avoid tripping. Moving sideways is also non-threatening to bears.
- Do NOT run, but if the bear follows, stop and hold your ground. Bears can run as fast as a racehorse both uphill and down. Like dogs, they will chase fleeing animals.
- Do NOT climb a tree. Both grizzlies and black bears can climb trees.
- Leave the area or take a detour. If this is impossible, wait until the bear moves away. Always leave the bear an escape route.
- Be especially cautious if you see a female with cubs; never place yourself between a mother and her cub, and never attempt to approach them. The chances of an attack escalate greatly if she perceives you as a danger to her cubs.