SAPPORO - Authorities in Sapporo’s Nishi Ward killed a mother bear and her cub on October 14th after the pair were caught in a box trap, marking the latest incident in a string of bear encounters in the city’s Nishino district.
The adult bear measured about 1.3 meters in length, while the cub was approximately 66 centimeters, and both were female. According to city officials, the animals were discovered inside a trap set in Nishino at around 5:30 p.m. on October 13th and were euthanized the following morning.
With this latest incident, a total of five bears have been killed in Nishino since the start of October, though authorities have not determined the exact areas where they had been appearing. The mother and cub had previously been captured on camera on October 2nd, and on September 26th a man walking his dog in a local park was injured after being attacked by a bear. Investigators are now working to determine whether the same animals were involved in that incident.
Officials say multiple bears continue to be sighted repeatedly in the area, and they are urging residents to remain alert.
Meanwhile, in the southern Hokkaido town of Kikonai, a bear was spotted walking through the yard of a vacant house at around 6:30 a.m. on October 14th. It was the fourth sighting at the same location between October 9th and 14th. Evidence of chestnuts being eaten on the property was also found, prompting police to step up patrols and warn residents to exercise caution.
Source: 北海道ニュースUHB
