Bear ransacks ski federation guesthouse in Tuva

Regional police urged people to avoid Taiga station temporarily after the animal entered a guesthouse.

A bear entered and ransacked a guesthouse belonging to the Ski Federation at Taiga station in Tuva, the regional Interior Ministry said. The ministry asked the public to temporarily refrain from visiting the station.

TASS reported that police released photographs from the scene showing furniture, equipment and belongings scattered inside the house, with a nearby structure knocked over. The station is about 30 kilometres from Kyzyl and is a popular recreation area.

The police warning was issued for visitors’ safety. The ministry did not report any injuries or say where the bear was after the incident.

According to Russia’s Natural Resources Ministry, the country had about 308,000 brown bears in 2026. Their population has more than doubled since 1990.

Regional authorities have also reported bears approaching settlements in recent months. Specialists have linked such encounters in part to animals searching for food when natural supplies are scarce.