Japan has been experiencing a horrific surge in bear encounters, leading to a drastic emergency declaration last week in a Hokkaido town. Meanwhile, authorities are currently searching for a wild boar hunter who has either disappeared or been killed in Hokkaido’s mountainous backcountry. They’re especially worried because a grizzly, or brown, bear was sighted close to where the hunter was last seen.
Wildlife experts attribute the increase in bear encounters to a significant shortage of acorns and other critical food supplies. These fruits and nuts are important dietary staples for the bear. This shortage has been exacerbated by the climate crisis, which has thrown the natural food source for wildlife out of whack. Ussuri brown bears in Hokkaido often reach sizes of three meters in height and over 500 kilograms. Consequently, these hulking bears are doing so more and more as they encroach upon neighborhoods and towns looking for grub.
Now, in recent weeks as many as three separate bear attacks have taken place on Japan’s largest island of Honshu, adding to the burgeoning fear. Most alarmingly, a widely reported tragic incident saw an 81-year-old woman killed by a black bear on July 4 in Iwate prefecture. On Tuesday morning, two Asian women were brutally assaulted in two different incidents. One of these took place in Aomori prefecture, while the other played out near Nara, highlighting the threat these creatures pose as they increasingly encroach on human settlements.
In response, local authorities have announced a month-long brown bear emergency for the town where these encounters are occurring. With public safety as the foremost priority, police, firefighters, and local hunters are patrolling relentlessly around the clock. The time for action is now. Brown bear roaming along the stretch of river where the hunter disappeared.
In response, the government has finally recognized the gravity of this crisis. In May, it made it easier for rural hunters to shoot bears in town, as it rolled back tough hunting regulation. This Toggling Mute set of decisions looks to reduce the risks from bear encounters as communities deal with the realities of more frequent interactions with wildlife.
The bear recently encountered in Fukushima was 1.5 meters long, according to the local NHK broadcasting service. Even that size paled in comparison to the bears that lived near Mt. As these encounters become more common they raise pressing issues regarding wildlife management in Japan. It highlights the severe effects of climate change in the area.