HOKKAIDO, Apr 16, 2025 (News On Japan) - A bear attacking a live deer outside a hotel in Kamikawa, Hokkaido, has shocked onlookers and prompted heightened alert from local authorities.
The rare sight was captured by a tourist through a hotel window near Mikuni Pass in northern Hokkaido, where snow still remains. The bear was seen biting into the back of the deer, pinning it to the ground in an apparent predatory attack.
According to wildlife expert Yoshikazu Sato, a professor at Rakuno Gakuen University, while it is not unheard of for bears to attack live deer, such scenes are extremely uncommon. "It's a surprising and rare image," said Sato. "This bear may be one that has learned to hunt live deer."
Bears become more active during this time of year as they emerge from hibernation. The deer struggled for around 15 minutes to escape, according to the tourist who filmed the incident. "The deer had been badly bitten and eventually collapsed further downhill," they said.
After subduing the deer, the bear left the carcass behind and returned to the mountains. The dead deer was later recovered.
The attack occurred in an area close to a hot spring resort with many hotels, prompting police to increase bear warnings in the region.
Related: Bear Sightings in Hokkaido Surpass Last Year as Temperatures Rise
Source: FNN
