Japan faces surge in bear sightings as animals emerge from hibernation

Japan is witnessing a sharp rise in bear sightings as animals emerge from their winter hibernation, with authorities warning of increased danger ahead of upcoming national holidays.

In recent years, bears have been spotted in urban areas across northeastern Japan, prompting alerts in Fukushima, Iwate and Aomori prefectures. More worryingly, bear encounters have grown increasingly dangerous, with 238 attacks last year leaving hundreds of people injured and at least 13 dead.

In a recent incident, a woman was found dead in Iwate after a suspected bear attack and a police officer was injured nearby. It was believed to be the first fatality from a bear attack this year.

In another case, police shot and killed a 100kg bear in a residential area after a prolonged standoff.

Five people were killed in animal attacks in Iwate between July and October last year, according to government data.

The last known bear attack before the hibernation period took place on 3 November in Yuzawa, in neighbouring Akita prefecture, according to the environment ministry.

This year, authorities issued a warning after at least five Asiatic black bears were seen within 10 days in Aomori. Similar alerts were issued in Iwate and Fukushima.

A town in northeastern Japan has responded to a rise in bear sightings by moving daily exercise indoors, according to Asahi Shimbun. In Kurihara in Miyagi prefecture, residents have become increasingly fearful following dozens of bear encounters last year and a fatal attack on a 75-year-old woman in October.

A local supermarket has now opened a 560m climate-controlled indoor walking course for people to exercise without the risk of encountering bears, which the paper says are appearing more frequently near residential areas.

In the face of a surge in bear attacks last year, the Japanese government had deployed the military in the Akita prefecture to help contain the problem. The warnings come ahead of Japan’s “golden week” from 29 April to 5 May containing multiple public holidays.

Last year, experts said that a shortage of beechnuts could be pushing bears into towns. This year, local authorities and residents are hoping for relief as experts predict a better crop of beechnuts, a key part of the bear diet.

The Japanese black bear, found across much of the Asian country, can grow to nearly 130kg, while the brown bear inhabiting the northern island of Hokkaido can weigh up to 400kg.

Mami Kondo, a bear-control specialist with the Akita prefectural government, told local media that a “turbulent spring” often followed a winter with an unusually heavy presence of bears.

This pattern was apparent after the end of 2023, which recorded the second-highest number of bear attacks since 2006, according to Ms Kondo.

“I have significant concerns this spring as well,” she said.

Bears appearing near human settlements in spring may stay around until late autumn or early winter, feeding on persimmons and other crops. They may even hibernate nearby and reappear in the spring.

Shinsuke Koike, an ecological professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, warned of a “potential hike in bear sightings this spring”.

Mr Koike said people collecting edible wild plants in the mountains were particularly at risk of attacks, since bears also fed on these plants after coming out of hibernation.

“It’s particularly important to implement preventive measures from spring so that bears cannot access any human food sources,” Mr Koike said.

“These steps include, for example, locking up warehouses containing edible items and not leaving anything to eat under eaves.”