Polar Bears Settle in at Deserted Russian Weather Outpost

Polar bears have made themselves at home in an abandoned research site located off Russia's remote eastern coastline. These creatures have claimed the former Soviet weather station on Kolyuchin Island as their own.

Aerial shots captured by Vadim Makhorov's drone reveal these majestic animals lounging comfortably within the dilapidated remnants. Kolyuchin Island lies approximately seven miles away from the Chukotka Peninsula, directly across from Alaska. The outpost was vacated in the 1990s following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

While filming the island's scenery with his drone, Makhorov noticed the bears. The images depict them peering through windows and relaxing on the verandas.

"Bears seem to have a knack for finding cozy spots," expressed Makhorov online. "They instinctively view these structures as havens."

According to Makhorov, about 20 bears were in the vicinity, with a group of walruses nearby. Overhead views reveal the station's buildings in various states of decay, surrounded by scattered debris. Other photos capture bears resting outside. In one instance, a bear attempted to snatch the drone as it neared.

"Despite being formidable predators, they appear endearingly photogenic," he remarked.

This isn't the first occasion where polar bears have shown curiosity towards human settlements. Back in 2016, a different team of seven bears cornered researchers at another weather station. Emergency assistance arrived in the form of a passing ship that deployed flares and used a helicopter to divert the bears, which had already harmed the site and its dogs.

Polar bears have ventured into inhabited areas, primarily in search of food. Although they are a protected species and seldom threaten humans, they can be lethal. An incident at a solitary Canadian Arctic radar outpost in 2024 resulted in a fatality.

Experts indicated to CBS News that the shifting climate is altering polar bear habits. Polar Bear International's scientists have detailed how diminishing sea ice is putting bears closer to people and away from their usual prey, seal dens. Additionally, these changes are causing a decline in genetic variety among polar bears. Research from 2020 suggests the alarming possibility of their decline by 2100.