Japan is grappling with a serious problem. Wild bear attacks are happening more often, sometimes with tragic results. This past weekend brought two more upsetting incidents. An elderly woman died after a bear attack in Miyagi Prefecture. Her friend, who was with her, is now missing. Meanwhile, far to the south in Nagano, a 78-year-old man was found dead. Police also believe a bear killed him.
The events in Miyagi unfolded on Friday, October 3. A group of four people had gone into the mountains to pick mushrooms. That’s when two of them were attacked by a wild bear. Police are now investigating the exact cause of the woman’s death. One person from the group called authorities to report that the woman had been “attacked by a bear.” News reports, including from NHK, suggest her wounds point to a bear attack.
Why are these encounters becoming so common? Experts say a couple of things are at play. Fewer people live in rural areas these days, so more wild land goes untouched. This means bears move closer to where people live. Climate change also plays a part, shifting where bears find food. This pushes them into new areas, sometimes residential ones.
In response to the growing danger, Japan made a big change last month. In September, the country eased its gun laws. It is now simpler for hunters to use rifles in places where buildings are closer together. This move aims to help deal with the rising number of bear attacks more effectively. Police in Miyagi spoke to AFP about the ongoing investigation.
The statistics paint a worrying picture. From April to August this year, bears injured 69 people across the country. Five of these attacks were deadly, according to NHK. Official government numbers show that for the fiscal year ending March 2025, 85 people were hurt by bears, with 3 deaths recorded. This ongoing trend highlights a tough challenge for both people and wildlife, as reported by Asahi Shimbun.
Source: japantoday