From “Interesting Incident” to “Emergency”

Abstract This article explores human–brown bear encounters in the Magadan region (Kolyma), Russia, through the lens of mediatization. While brown bear ceremonialism and hunting are well-established topics in Siberian anthropology, the experiences of urban settlers have received little attention. I examine how the growing presence of cameras in daily life has shaped the eventfulness of bear encounters in the former Soviet industrial frontier. Analyzing media reports, I trace shifts in how these encounters have been framed over time. I argue that historical changes in the media ecology have transformed how brown bears are seen and represented, as well as the broader wildlife expertise and politics in Russia, by introducing a punctuated, presentist, and moment-oriented logic. I conclude by reflecting on the recent prominence of “encounter” in human–animal anthropological research.