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Hibernating Bears Stir: Record Sightings Grip Japan
27 Apr
Summary
- Woman found dead after nearby police officer injured in bear attack.
- Bear sightings surge, outpacing previous record year in 2025.
- Experts hope for better crops to reduce hungry bears in populated areas.
As Japan emerges from winter, bears are increasingly encountered by humans, with sightings already surpassing last year's record pace. In Iwate prefecture, a woman's body was discovered recently, shortly after a police officer was injured in a bear attack in the same area.
Authorities are issuing warnings, particularly as the Golden Week holidays approach, with bears spotted near apartment buildings, warehouses, and train stations. Prefectures like Aomori, Iwate, and Fukushima have issued alerts due to the unusual frequency of these encounters.
Last year saw a record 238 bear attacks across Japan, resulting in 13 deaths, primarily in the Tohoku region. While a professor forecasts better beechnut crops, potentially reducing food-driven encounters, another expert cautions that bears might have learned to associate human settlements with food sources.
