Bear spotted near Mongolia's capital, govt issues warning

ULAN BATOR - The government of Mongolia's capital on Monday warned its citizens to avoid forest areas after a bear was spotted in the city last week.

"Bears have been spotted in residential areas with forest in the country, especially forest areas in the capital city. Most recently, a bear was spotted in Gachuurt village last Thursday," the environment department of Ulan Bator said in a statement.

Social media posts from Mongolian citizens detailing bear sightings have been a regular sight this year. Meanwhile, a 55-year-old man and his eight-year-old son were killed in a bear attack in the northern Mongolian province of Selenge in early October.

Officials say bears appear in residential areas largely due to a lack of food in their natural surroundings.