A brown bear on a road in Shiretoko National Park, Hokkaido, June 2018. (Courtesy of Rausu Town, Hokkaido)
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With bear sightings and attacks being reported across Japan, Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara on June 9 urged residents in municipalities where bears have been spotted but not yet captured, including Utsunomiya, Fukushima, and Matsumoto, to "put their safety first" in their daily activities.
Speaking at a press conference after a Cabinet meeting, he also called on the public to review the Environment Ministry's six rules for avoiding encounters with bears.
Ishihara said residents in affected areas are facing considerable anxiety and disruption to their daily lives, and pledged to strengthen countermeasures through closer cooperation between the national and local governments.
The ministry's six guidelines for avoiding encounters with bears are:
- Check bear sighting information in advance.
- Do not venture into mountainous areas alone.
- Avoid outdoor activities in the early morning and evening, when bears are most active.
- Make noise continuously by using a radio, bear bell, or similar device to alert bears to your presence.
- Stay aware of your surroundings at all times, including watching for bears in trees.
- If you find signs of bears such as droppings, footprints, or claw marks, leave the area quietly.
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Author: The Sankei Shimbun
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