Abnormal heat prevented Siberian bears from hibernating

Bears in the Tomsk and Novosibirsk regions are unable to hibernate due to the abnormally warm weather in the regions in November. On November 12, the relevant departments of the subjects reported on the disruption of the biological schedules of animals.

According to Andrey Kolomin, head of the Department of Hunting and Fisheries of the Tomsk region, the lack of stable sub-zero temperatures delays the period of predators in their dens. According to RIA Novosti, the official confirmed that while Siberia remains warm, some of the animals will continue to stay awake.

In the first half of November 2026, positive daytime temperatures remain in these regions and there is no stable snow cover, which is atypical for this time of year.

Bears come out to residential buildings

Hibernation in the Novosibirsk region in 2026 may begin one to three weeks later than usual. In addition to temperature, the process is influenced by the height of the snow cover and the state of the food supply. Experts emphasize that due to the lack of natural food - berries and nuts, as well as the effects of large—scale forest fires, hungry predators can approach residential buildings. According to RIA Novosti, the release of bears to humans this season is due to a combination of weather anomalies, food shortages in the taiga and forced migration of animals from fire zones.

Not up to hibernation: how the regions solve the problem of bear attacks on people

In the Urals, they are increasing the production of animals, and in Siberia, they are increasing patrols and imposing restrictions on residents.

The situation with forest fires in 2026 has significantly complicated the lives of the inhabitants of the taiga. According to the Incidents portal, 349 forest fires have been recorded in the Tomsk Region since the beginning of the year, covering an area of more than 10.6 thousand hectares. At the same time, 96% of these fires were caused by natural factors — thunderstorms. In the Novosibirsk region, the situation also remained tense: 49 forest fires were recorded there on an area of 2.1 thousand hectares, but here more than 40% of cases were caused by humans.

Against the background of increased encounters between people and bears, many of which end in deaths, the authorities of the Siberian regions regulate the number of predators, encouraging hunting and issuing permits for shooting. So, 579 bears have been shot in the Irkutsk Region since the beginning of 2026. In the Krasnoyarsk Territory, 1,830 bears were removed from nature, but reports of predators near populated areas continue to arrive daily. Most of them, 1,122 individuals, were killed as part of population control, while the remaining 708 were hunted during normal hunting.

Predator activity began to decrease

The situation is different in other regions of Siberia. In Buryatia, predators have already begun to hibernate, which has led to a decrease in their activity. According to Denis Krylov, head of the Department of Burprirodnadzor, over the past week the agency has received 31 reports of animals coming out to people, whereas in September up to 48 such calls per day were recorded. Since the beginning of the season, 16 bears that posed a threat have been eliminated in the republic.

Experts warn that the period remains dangerous until all the animals have gone into their dens. Earlier in the Novosibirsk region, hunters had to eliminate a brown bear weighing about 500 kg, which destroyed 40 heads of livestock and regularly appeared near populated areas. Experts remind that the lack of snow and warm soil do not allow bears to feel safe in their dens, which forces them to continue searching for food near human habitation.