Bear believed to be behind the attacks spotted in Fukushima City around 12:35 PM on June 2.
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After attacking four people, a bear in Fukushima took up residence inside a factory owned by an electronics manufacturer. As city authorities prepared to invoke an emergency hunting measure that would allow them to shoot the animal, it left the premises on the night of June 3.
Investigators later found signs that the bear had opened a locked factory window before leaving. It was also seen using its front paws to operate a faucet and drink water.
At an emergency press conference, Mayor Yuki Baba described it as "an extremely intelligent bear," reinforcing concerns that so-called "urban bears" are adapting their behavior to human environments.
Experts believe bears are increasingly venturing into populated areas and learning from repeated exposure to human-made structures.
Expanding Into Human Territory
Preliminary figures show that bear attacks injured 238 people and killed 13 during the last fiscal year, both record highs. As of June 3 this fiscal year, four people had already been killed.
The rise in incidents suggests bears are expanding their range. Factors contributing to this trend include depopulation in mountainous regions, an increase in abandoned farmland, and reduced human activity following the decline of the forestry industry.
"Satoyama areas in mountainous regions have deteriorated, and traditional activities such as charcoal production and livestock farming have declined," said Toshio Tsubota, professor emeritus of wildlife medicine at Hokkaido University. "As these buffer zones disappear, bears are effectively spilling out of the mountains."
Food Shortages Drive Encounters
Weather conditions have also played a role. Last autumn, acorn crops—a key food source for bears—failed, leaving many animals unable to build sufficient fat reserves before hibernation.
"Even after emerging from hibernation, their nutritional condition remains poor, making them more likely to enter urban areas in search of food," Tsubota said.
According to Akita Prefecture's forestry research center, this year's beech nut crop is expected to be abundant. However, beech nuts and other acorns tend to alternate between bumper and poor harvests. Tsubota predicts that while bear incidents this autumn may not reach last year's levels, sightings and incursions into urban areas will increase again whenever acorn crops fail.
Restoring the Boundary
Tsubota stresses the need to maintain a clear separation between human and bear habitats. Bears that enter residential areas should be removed, while their natural habitat should be properly preserved.
He also advocates deploying teams of bear specialists and trained bear-control dogs in newly affected mountainous regions. Because bears tend to avoid open areas with good visibility, clearing underbrush and cutting back vegetation can help make communities less accessible to them.
RELATED:
- As Bear Attacks Rise, Hokkaido Struggles to Balance Safety and Coexistence
- INTERVIEW | Expert Insights into Japan's Bear Attacks: Run or Play Dead?
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
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