Record Bear Attacks in Japan

While some demand swift culling, critics argue the focus should be on coexistence and preventive measures.

In Hokkaido earlier this month, a 26-year-old man was killed on a mountain trail in the Shiretoko Peninsula, adding to a string of fatalities this summer. Sapporo has reported more than 1,300 bear sightings over the past decade, with encounters increasingly shifting from remote forests to residential areas and parks. Nishioka Park, located just nine kilometers south of the city center, has remained closed after repeated bear sightings, the latest occurring in mid-August.

Residents say their fear is intensifying. "It’s terrifying to see bears appearing in broad daylight, even in areas where children and dogs are taken for walks," said one woman. Demand for bear deterrents is rising: a local home improvement store reported increased sales of bells and more inquiries about bear spray costing around 17,000 yen.

Experts warn that household garbage is a major factor drawing bears closer to human settlements. In Fukushima Town, where a newspaper delivery worker was fatally mauled in July, bears had been rummaging through food waste days earlier. Once they acquire a taste for human refuse, specialists say, they return persistently, heightening risks of attacks.

Local governments are scrambling to strengthen defenses. Rules on garbage disposal, electric fences, and brush clearing are being reinforced, but residents say municipalities cannot manage alone. "Once bears become fixated, they will enter residential areas again and again," a researcher explained. "Preventive measures require funding and manpower beyond what local officials can handle."

Policy is also shifting. Starting in September, revised legislation will allow municipalities to authorize the use of firearms against bears entering residential areas or roads, a decision previously requiring police approval. Still, the burden of judgment is expected to weigh heavily on local governments. "Speed is essential when attacks are rising," one official noted, though critics caution that culling must remain a last resort.

Public opinion remains divided. Some residents insist that culling is necessary once bears pose a threat to human life, while others argue that humans are at fault for encroaching on bear habitats through deforestation and development. "If it’s inside a national park, I oppose killing," said one resident. "But in urban areas, it may be unavoidable." Others pointed out that once bears associate humans with food, coexistence becomes impossible.

Authorities have also faced backlash. The Hokkaido government reports receiving abusive complaints, many from outside the prefecture, accusing staff of killing bears indiscriminately. Officials say such harassment is disrupting operations. Commentators warn that while emotional responses are understandable, intimidation of staff amounts to customer harassment and risks undermining public safety efforts.

Sociologists note that climate change, habitat loss, and declining satoyama woodlands have reshaped the dynamics of human-bear interactions. With encounters likely to continue rising, specialists urge a dual approach: swift emergency responses when human lives are endangered, alongside long-term investment in preventive measures. "We need to balance safety and coexistence," said Yoshinori Sato, a professor at Rakugakuin University. "That means both culling when unavoidable and building systems that keep bears away from human settlements."

Source: TBS