Kamchatka brown bears at Kuril Lake are actively foraging for berries and pine cones ahead of their annual winter hibernation. The animals are currently in a critical fattening phase, requiring substantial weight gain before their prolonged seasonal dormancy. Consequently, they are feeding not only on fish along the shorelines but also on plant sources in the adjacent tundra.
When approaching Kuril Lake by air, observers can see the bears feeding heavily on pine nuts above the dense thickets of dwarf Siberian pine. Nearby – often within the same habitat – other individuals are visible consuming rowan berries to maximize their caloric intake.
The Samang Archipelago serves as a primary habitat for the population during this transitional period. In the coming weeks, female bears and their cubs will migrate to this specific area to establish their winter dens within the natural lava caves.