Gifu Prefecture issues bear warning after attack on woman; location of bear remains unconfirmed

GERO, Gifu — A woman in her 80s suffered severe head injuries and was taken to hospital after she was attacked by a bear in a field near an inn in Gero, Gifu Prefecture, at about 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, prompting the prefectural government to issue a warning the following day.

This was the first case of a bear attacking a resident in the prefecture this fiscal year.

According to the city, the bear that attacked the woman was a cub that attacked her from behind. After receiving the report of the attack, city officials patrolled the area early Wednesday morning but were unable to locate the bear. There have been 11 bear sightings reported in the city so far this fiscal year.

According to the prefectural government, there have already been 90 bear sightings in the prefecture this fiscal year as of Wednesday.