For the first time since the introduction of its bear warning system, Hokkaido has declared the highest-level bear alert, following the fatal mauling of a 52-year-old newspaper deliveryman in the town of Fukushima.
The rare warning, issued on 12 July, comes after the man’s body was discovered in the bushes, showing severe bite and claw wounds. The incident has sent shockwaves across the island, known for its wildlife but rarely for deadly bear encounters in urban settings.
Highest-Level Alert Activated for a Month
The alert system, introduced in May 2022, has three levels — with the highest tier triggered when a bear attacks a human within or near an urban area.
This particular warning applies to the town of Fukushima in south-western Hokkaido, and will remain in effect until 11 August, unless the bear is captured or killed earlier.
According to police investigations, the victim appeared to have been attacked near the entrance of a house and then dragged into nearby bushes. His body bore claw wounds and bite marks, primarily around the abdomen. Authorities believe the bear measured between 1 to 1.5 metres in body length and did not flee even after being shouted at by a witness.
Hunters Mobilised as Authorities Warn Residents
In response, local hunters and police have been deployed to locate and eliminate the bear. Authorities are urging residents to stay indoors during nighttime, avoid hiking in forested areas, and not leave food waste outside their homes, which could attract more wildlife.
This is the first time Hokkaido has reached this level of bear emergency, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. Although bear sightings in rural Japan are not uncommon, fatal encounters in towns are exceedingly rare.
Surge in Bear Encounters Raises Concerns
Japan has seen a rising number of bear encounters in recent years, particularly in regions like Akita, Iwate, and Hokkaido, where urban expansion has increasingly overlapped with bear habitats.
Wildlife experts have attributed this trend to a decline in natural food sources, such as acorns and berries, as well as climate change and depopulation in rural areas, which reduce human activity and embolden wildlife to wander closer to towns.
In the past year alone, Japan reported over 100 injuries and multiple deaths due to bear attacks, sparking calls for more stringent wildlife management policies.