At least 37 people have been attacked by bears in Japan since April

According to Japanese authorities, at least 37 people in 16 prefectures were attacked by wild bears between April and July 3, and two of them were killed.

According to authorities, 39 people were attacked by bears during the same period in fiscal year 2023, bringing the number of bear attacks for the entire year to a record high.
In the same period in fiscal year 2017, 40 people were attacked.

The total number is expected to reach its highest level yet in this financial year, which began in April.

Japan’s Environment Ministry says local governments across the country have already received more reports of bear sightings and tracks than in a normal year. In April and May, local governments received 3,032 reports, an increase of nearly 500 from 2,567 the previous year.

Professor Koike Shinsuke of the Graduate School of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology believes that the wild bear population is expected to increase and their habitat is likely to expand in the long term.

He said it would not be surprising if severe damage from bear attacks, such as those seen in Akita Prefecture last year, occurred elsewhere in Japan.

He advises residents to remove potential bait such as crops and garbage before the number of bear attacks increases in the fall.

He also said that the animals’ migration routes would need to be blocked to keep them away from populated areas.

Some prefectures, from Hokkaido to central Japan, have issued bear warnings and alerts. Authorities advise people to check prefectural websites for sightings of the animals to avoid bear encounters.