- 18 Jan 2005
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Nature The Japanese brown and black bear thread
- Thread starter thomas
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- black bears brown bears
- 14 Mar 2002
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- Thread starter
- #103
In Fukushima Prefecture , NTT Docomo Business has begun using drones to help track and deter wild bears, working with the village of Shōwa. The machines are fitted with high-performance cameras that include thermal imaging, which makes them useful at dawn and after dark, the hours when bears are usually on the move. They operate on the LTE network, the same standard used for ordinary mobile phones.
Photo credit: Jiji Press
The company, part of the wider NTT group, intends to offer the system to other municipalities as bear incidents continue to rise nationwide. The drones are sent to areas where sightings have been reported, supporting local hunters in their culling operations, and the heat-sensing cameras allow them to detect animals that have retreated into the undergrowth.
www.japantimes.co.jp
Photo credit: Jiji Press
The company, part of the wider NTT group, intends to offer the system to other municipalities as bear incidents continue to rise nationwide. The drones are sent to areas where sightings have been reported, supporting local hunters in their culling operations, and the heat-sensing cameras allow them to detect animals that have retreated into the undergrowth.
Drones used to locate and drive away bears in Fukushima village
Showa’s local government has conducted patrols using the drones on a regular basis since October.
- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
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- Thread starter
- #104
CNN on the fightback against bears: Japan's bear population has skyrocketed, while the number of licensed hunters has plummeted.
However, the article also echoes voices that warn against blanket killing: a nonprofit called Picchio uses dogs to deter bears, and tags bears to track their movements. Picchio also advocates planting bear food trees outside residential areas, so they have access to natural resources farther from towns. While repeat offenders may still be culled, these measures reduce unnecessary deaths.
However, the article also echoes voices that warn against blanket killing: a nonprofit called Picchio uses dogs to deter bears, and tags bears to track their movements. Picchio also advocates planting bear food trees outside residential areas, so they have access to natural resources farther from towns. While repeat offenders may still be culled, these measures reduce unnecessary deaths.
- 21 May 2003
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For many years Maine has used bear traps mounted on a trailer. When the bear goes in to eat , it drops the strong door to keep him in. Then the game wardens take them to a very remote area away from people and release them.
- 14 Mar 2002
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- Thread starter
- #106
This is heartbreaking to read. 
A smartwatch recovered from a hiker killed by a bear in Hokkaidō (the report is linked above) has given investigators a rough picture of what happened in his last moments, even hinting that the animal may have come back to the body the following day. The watch was found after the 14 August attack, and its data, which logs both route and heart rate, showed a sudden change just before midday. Instead of following the usual hiking track, the man veered sharply off and went down a wooded slope. Once inside thick brush, his movements appeared to double back repeatedly over the same patch of ground, something investigators read as a sign of a struggle. The heart-rate readings stopped entirely about a hundred to a hundred and thirty metres away from the trail, which led police to believe that he died there.
www.japantimes.co.jp
A smartwatch recovered from a hiker killed by a bear in Hokkaidō (the report is linked above) has given investigators a rough picture of what happened in his last moments, even hinting that the animal may have come back to the body the following day. The watch was found after the 14 August attack, and its data, which logs both route and heart rate, showed a sudden change just before midday. Instead of following the usual hiking track, the man veered sharply off and went down a wooded slope. Once inside thick brush, his movements appeared to double back repeatedly over the same patch of ground, something investigators read as a sign of a struggle. The heart-rate readings stopped entirely about a hundred to a hundred and thirty metres away from the trail, which led police to believe that he died there.
GPS watch of hiker killed in Hokkaido bear attack shows last movements
Bears have killed a record 13 people in Japan this year and injured more than 200 others.
- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
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- Thread starter
- #107
Clearly, it's not a brilliant idea to wear a full-sized, black, and furry jumpsuit with bear-like ears attached to the hood in Tohoku!
soranews24.com
Japanese woman mistaken for bear
With the right clothing anyone can bear a resemblance.
soranews24.com
- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
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- Thread starter
- #108
Japan's large robotic "wolf," introduced several years ago to scare off bears and protect farmland, is now being joined by a much smaller and outwardly softer counterpart that is nonetheless designed to be just as noisy as the original.
The developer, Hokkaido -based Ohta Seiki, is preparing a product called the Monster Wolf Mini, a device about 20 centimetres long that resembles a stuffed toy at first glance. Its appearance is deliberately disarming. With a remote switch, however, the plush figure's eyes light up red, and it emits electronically generated sounds reaching around 80 decibels, roughly comparable to heavy city traffic or the grinding noise of a household garbage disposal.
Beyond the usual growls and howls, the miniature version can also deliver short verbal threats, including phrases that sound like warnings of imminent harm. The company expects the unit to reach the market in fiscal 2026.
Ohta Seiki released the original Monster Wolf in 2018, primarily as a deterrent against bears entering residential areas. However, it has also been used to drive away deer and other animals that damage crops. The larger model relies on motion sensors: when an approaching animal is detected, its LED eyes flare red, and it plays a randomly selected sound from a library of more than 50 effects at approximately 90 decibels. More than 300 units have since been installed by farms, municipalities, and other customers, suggesting modest but sustained demand for mechanical guardians that rely on noise and spectacle rather than force.
Paywall alert:
asia.nikkei.com
The developer, Hokkaido -based Ohta Seiki, is preparing a product called the Monster Wolf Mini, a device about 20 centimetres long that resembles a stuffed toy at first glance. Its appearance is deliberately disarming. With a remote switch, however, the plush figure's eyes light up red, and it emits electronically generated sounds reaching around 80 decibels, roughly comparable to heavy city traffic or the grinding noise of a household garbage disposal.
Beyond the usual growls and howls, the miniature version can also deliver short verbal threats, including phrases that sound like warnings of imminent harm. The company expects the unit to reach the market in fiscal 2026.
Ohta Seiki released the original Monster Wolf in 2018, primarily as a deterrent against bears entering residential areas. However, it has also been used to drive away deer and other animals that damage crops. The larger model relies on motion sensors: when an approaching animal is detected, its LED eyes flare red, and it plays a randomly selected sound from a library of more than 50 effects at approximately 90 decibels. More than 300 units have since been installed by farms, municipalities, and other customers, suggesting modest but sustained demand for mechanical guardians that rely on noise and spectacle rather than force.
Paywall alert:
Japan's bear-scaring wolf robot to get 80-decibel plush version
'Monster Wolf Mini' resembles a stuffed animal but is just as loud and threatening
asia.nikkei.com
- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
- 18,903
- Thread starter
- #109
Usually, Japanese bears hibernate in February. Yet, bears have already been sighted across Japan, raising concerns of another wave of deadly encounters.
A bear believed to be an Asian black bear was spotted walking across a snow-covered mountain in Hakusan, Ishikawa Prefecture, on 12 February, a time when the animals are usually still hibernating. Footage released by a local nature conservation centre showed the animal moving through deep snow. Bear sightings in the area typically begin around mid-March, suggesting the bears appeared a month earlier than usual.
Another bear was reported the following day, 13 February, in Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture. A member of a local hunting association was injured after the animal attacked during efforts to drive it away using fireworks. Farther north, a bear was also seen on 24 February at Shunkunitai in Nemuro, Hokkaido . At around 8 a.m., photographers gathered to observe wild birds when they noticed a single bear walking near a lakeshore in the distance.
[Video deleted]
A bear believed to be an Asian black bear was spotted walking across a snow-covered mountain in Hakusan, Ishikawa Prefecture, on 12 February, a time when the animals are usually still hibernating. Footage released by a local nature conservation centre showed the animal moving through deep snow. Bear sightings in the area typically begin around mid-March, suggesting the bears appeared a month earlier than usual.
Another bear was reported the following day, 13 February, in Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture. A member of a local hunting association was injured after the animal attacked during efforts to drive it away using fireworks. Farther north, a bear was also seen on 24 February at Shunkunitai in Nemuro, Hokkaido . At around 8 a.m., photographers gathered to observe wild birds when they noticed a single bear walking near a lakeshore in the distance.
Bear Sightings Spread Across Japan, Experts Call It Abnormal
Although February is typically the height of the hibernation season, bears have already been sighted across Japan, raising concerns of another wave of deadly encounters.
newsonjapan.com
- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
- 18,903
- Thread starter
- #110
The "Oriental Paperbush and Fringed Iris Forest" (ミツマタとシャガの群生地 Mitsumata to shaga no gunseichi) in Oitomi (老富), Ayabe City, Kyōto Prefecture, a popular sightseeing spot, will remain closed this year amid the threat of bear attacks. Pre-emptively.
mainichi.jp
Fear of bear attacks prompts closure of Kyoto Pref. nature spot for 2026 - The Mainichi
AYABE, Kyoto -- A sightseeing spot in this western Japan city known for its oriental paperbrush and fringed iris plants will remain closed this year a
- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
- 18,903
- Thread starter
- #111
A good harvest of beech nuts this year promises more food sources for Japanese bears and fewer unwanted encounters with humans:
The Tohoku Regional Forest Office of Japan's Forestry Agency, based in this city, said beech trees flowered heavily this spring, pointing to a strong nut crop, an important food source for bears. Forestry officials checked flowering conditions along roadsides in a national forest in Akita using binoculars and released the findings on 21 April. The outlook suggests nut production this year is likely to exceed last year's, when the region suffered a severe crop failure.
Beech nuts are a favoured food for bears, and poor harvests are thought to increase the chances of bears moving into residential areas and even towns. A better crop could ease some of that pressure. At least that is the expectation. The survey is being carried out at 145 sites across five prefectures in the Tohoku region — Aomori Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Akita Prefecture and Yamagata Prefecture — all within the office's jurisdiction. In Akita alone, 55 sites are being monitored. The office said it will check actual nut production again in autumn. Flowering is one indicator, but the real test comes later.
mainichi.jp
The Tohoku Regional Forest Office of Japan's Forestry Agency, based in this city, said beech trees flowered heavily this spring, pointing to a strong nut crop, an important food source for bears. Forestry officials checked flowering conditions along roadsides in a national forest in Akita using binoculars and released the findings on 21 April. The outlook suggests nut production this year is likely to exceed last year's, when the region suffered a severe crop failure.
Beech nuts are a favoured food for bears, and poor harvests are thought to increase the chances of bears moving into residential areas and even towns. A better crop could ease some of that pressure. At least that is the expectation. The survey is being carried out at 145 sites across five prefectures in the Tohoku region — Aomori Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Akita Prefecture and Yamagata Prefecture — all within the office's jurisdiction. In Akita alone, 55 sites are being monitored. The office said it will check actual nut production again in autumn. Flowering is one indicator, but the real test comes later.
Japan Forestry Agency expects good harvest of beech nuts loved by bears this year - The Mainichi
AKITA -- The Tohoku Regional Forest Office of Japan's Forestry Agency based in this city has reported that beech trees flowered in abundance this spri
- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
- 18,903
- Thread starter
- #112
I know they are dangerous, but this indiscriminate catching and culling (as explained in the video below) depresses me.
Giant Bears Return to Hokkaido
A series of sightings involving unusually large brown bears in Hokkaido has heightened concerns among local residents, with one 330-kilogram animal captured in Tomamae and another 280-kilogram bear attacking a hunter in Shimamaki.
newsonjapan.com
- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
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- Thread starter
- #113
A bear was confirmed in Hachioji, Tokyo, last April. While technically Tokyo, it is actually quite a rural area. Shiroyama and its water reservoir are popular cycling destinations.
- 26 Sep 2015
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THEY ARE GETTING CLOSER! My bet is the first sighting in Tokyo's 23 wards will be around 2035.
- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
- 18,903
- Thread starter
- #115
The wolf robots, mentioned several times in this thread, are proving to be in high demand.
A Japanese company behind the fierce-looking "Monster Wolf" robot scarecrow says orders have surged after last year's record number of fatal bear attacks on people. The animatronic wolf, made by a company in Hokkaido , has flashing red eyes and lets out loud howls and growls to frighten off wild animals. Manufacturer Ohta Seiki has already received around 50 orders in 2026, more than it would normally expect over an entire year.
Company president Yuji Ohta told AFP the devices were made by hand and production could not keep up with demand. Customers were now being asked to wait two to three months, he said. Ohta also said awareness of bear safety had grown, along with concern over wildlife damage to crops. More people were recognising that the robot wolves were effective against bears, he added.
www.cbsnews.com
A Japanese company behind the fierce-looking "Monster Wolf" robot scarecrow says orders have surged after last year's record number of fatal bear attacks on people. The animatronic wolf, made by a company in Hokkaido , has flashing red eyes and lets out loud howls and growls to frighten off wild animals. Manufacturer Ohta Seiki has already received around 50 orders in 2026, more than it would normally expect over an entire year.
Company president Yuji Ohta told AFP the devices were made by hand and production could not keep up with demand. Customers were now being asked to wait two to three months, he said. Ohta also said awareness of bear safety had grown, along with concern over wildlife damage to crops. More people were recognising that the robot wolves were effective against bears, he added.
"Monster wolf" robots in high demand to scare off bears in Japan after record number of attacks
"Monster Wolf" is an animatronic scarecrow with flashing red eyes that howls and growls menacingly to scare away wild animals.
www.cbsnews.com
- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
- 18,903
- Thread starter
- #116
The bears are taking over Western Tokyo. Means no more hikes or dog walks in that area.
A Russian man in his 30s was seriously injured after reportedly being attacked by a bear while hiking on Mount Mutsuishi in Okutama, western Tokyo, at around 12:10 p.m. on 17 May.
[Video deleted]
A Russian man in his 30s was seriously injured after reportedly being attacked by a bear while hiking on Mount Mutsuishi in Okutama, western Tokyo, at around 12:10 p.m. on 17 May.
[Video deleted]
Russian Hiker Seriously Injured in Bear Attack in Western Tokyo
A Russian man in his 30s suffered serious injuries after being attacked by a bear while hiking on Mount Mutsuishi in Okutama Town, western Tokyo, at around 12:10 p.m. on May 17th, according to the Metropolitan Police Department and the Tokyo Fire Department.
newsonjapan.com
- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
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- Thread starter
- #117
If bears keep encroaching the way they are now, hiking, even in the mountains of western Tokyo, might become too dangerous:
A body missing its upper half was found in the mountains of western Tokyo on Tuesday, with what appeared to be tracks left by a large animal discovered nearby, police said. The Ōme branch of the Metropolitan Police Department is trying to identify the victim, whose age and gender remain unknown. Investigators are also examining the possibility that a bear or another wild animal attacked the person.
japantoday.com
A body missing its upper half was found in the mountains of western Tokyo on Tuesday, with what appeared to be tracks left by a large animal discovered nearby, police said. The Ōme branch of the Metropolitan Police Department is trying to identify the victim, whose age and gender remain unknown. Investigators are also examining the possibility that a bear or another wild animal attacked the person.
Bear attack suspected after body part found in Tokyo mountains
A body with its upper half missing was discovered Tuesday in the mountains of west Tokyo, with tracks believed to have been left by a large animal also found nearby, local police said. The Ome branch of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is working to identify the victim, whose gender…
japantoday.com
- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
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- Thread starter
- #118
This specimen of black bear really upped the ante. After attacking four people at a factory in Fukushima City, it evaded all the traps set for it, appeared completely unfazed by a tranquilliser dart, then apparently opened a window and slipped away into the night. Quite the intelligent escape artist. 
A bear trapped inside a factory in Fukushima after attacking four people managed to escape overnight after unlatching a window and slipping away, city officials said. The animal, which officials described as "vicious and extremely wary", had also survived an earlier attempt to tranquilise it with a dart gun.
The bear had entered the Oki Sympho-Tech factory, located around 3 kilometres west of JR Fukushima Station. A city-led capture operation had been underway before the animal escaped during the night. Its disappearance has put local authorities on alert, and several nearby schools have switched to online classes due to safety concerns. The city's handling of the situation also drew criticism online. Some social media users complained that official communication about the bear and the risks to residents had been too slow.
A bear trapped inside a factory in Fukushima after attacking four people managed to escape overnight after unlatching a window and slipping away, city officials said. The animal, which officials described as "vicious and extremely wary", had also survived an earlier attempt to tranquilise it with a dart gun.
[Video removed]
The bear had entered the Oki Sympho-Tech factory, located around 3 kilometres west of JR Fukushima Station. A city-led capture operation had been underway before the animal escaped during the night. Its disappearance has put local authorities on alert, and several nearby schools have switched to online classes due to safety concerns. The city's handling of the situation also drew criticism online. Some social media users complained that official communication about the bear and the risks to residents had been too slow.
Mad Bear On The Loose Despite Hit With Tranquilizer
A bear that injured four people in Fukushima City escaped despite efforts to capture it using tranquilizer darts and box traps, prompting authorities to urge residents to remain on high alert.
newsonjapan.com
- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
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- Thread starter
- #120
Looks like this one beat even Yogi Bear.
Japanese bear on the run after injuring four people
Authorities said that a bear in north-east Japan has eluded capture by opening a window.
www.bbc.com
‘Extremely intelligent’ Japanese bear that attacked four people still at large, police say
Bear believed to have unlatched and opened a locked window, and was seen turning on and drinking from a tap
- 14 Mar 2002
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- #121
They're everywhere. This one was chased around in Amanohashidate. It didn't end well for the bear.
[Video deleted]
[Video deleted]
Bear Swims Ashore and Roams Popular Kyoto Prefecture Tourist Area
A male Asiatic black bear that appeared at Amanohashidate, one of Japan
newsonjapan.com
- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
- 18,903
- Thread starter
- #122
FamilyMart began testing a new bear deterrent on 24 June at a store in a mountainous part of Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture, marking the first time the device has been deployed at a convenience store. The device, known as Monster Wolf, was installed next to the outlet to deter bears and other wildlife. It detects approaching animals and attempts to scare them away using a combination of sounds, flashing lights and other warning signals.
Bear sightings have continued in the Kiryu area, with another sighting reported just a week before the trial began. Monster Wolf is designed to prevent animals from becoming accustomed to it. The system uses more than 50 different sounds, which are played at random to maintain their deterrent effect.
Bear sightings have continued in the Kiryu area, with another sighting reported just a week before the trial began. Monster Wolf is designed to prevent animals from becoming accustomed to it. The system uses more than 50 different sounds, which are played at random to maintain their deterrent effect.
FamilyMart Store Tests Monster Wolf to Keep Bears Away
FamilyMart began testing a new bear deterrent on June 24 at a store in a mountainous area of Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture, installing a wolf-shaped device known as Monster Wolf next to the outlet in the first such trial at a convenience store.
newsonjapan.com
- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
- 18,903
- Thread starter
- #123
More bears seem to be outwitting humans, and their cubs are learning from them.
They avoid traps and dig holes to pass under electric fences.
They avoid traps and dig holes to pass under electric fences.
Smart Bears Outwit Hunters
A bear was seen walking openly through a residential street in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture, on the morning of July 3, appearing in a popular hot spring area with a history of 1,200 years that attracts many tourists.
newsonjapan.com
- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
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- Thread starter
- #124
That's rather cute! The bear decoy, that is.
Noboribetsu in Hokkaido held a drill to practise culling a brown bear under Japan's emergency gun-hunting procedures, using a scenario in which a bear appeared in a park close to schools and residential neighbourhoods.
Local hunters took part as bear sightings continue to rise across the country. Officials rehearsed the steps needed before an "emergency gun hunt" can be authorised, a system that allows municipalities to order the shooting of bears in urban areas at their own discretion. The exercise also covered the evacuation of nearby residents and the introduction of traffic restrictions. Emergency gun hunting has been carried out three times in Hokkaido so far. The prefecture has recorded 1,266 reports of bear sightings and related incidents in 2026.
Noboribetsu in Hokkaido held a drill to practise culling a brown bear under Japan's emergency gun-hunting procedures, using a scenario in which a bear appeared in a park close to schools and residential neighbourhoods.
Local hunters took part as bear sightings continue to rise across the country. Officials rehearsed the steps needed before an "emergency gun hunt" can be authorised, a system that allows municipalities to order the shooting of bears in urban areas at their own discretion. The exercise also covered the evacuation of nearby residents and the introduction of traffic restrictions. Emergency gun hunting has been carried out three times in Hokkaido so far. The prefecture has recorded 1,266 reports of bear sightings and related incidents in 2026.
Hokkaido City Drills for Bear Encounters
Noboribetsu in Hokkaido conducted a drill to cull a brown bear under emergency gun-hunting procedures, based on a scenario in which a bear appeared at a park near schools and residential areas in the city, with local hunters taking part as bear sightings continue to be reported across Japan.
newsonjapan.com
- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
- 18,903
- Thread starter
- #125
Last week saw an increase in home invasions by bears.
Although nobody was hurt in the sightings over the last week or so, encounters between humans and bears in Iwate are the latest examples of a nationwide surge that is testing Japan's traditional belief in harmonious coexistence with nature. Bear encounters are on the rise in Japan. They have been spotted in northern ski towns and southern villages, and on the outskirts of cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. The United States, Canada and the United Kingdom have issued warnings to travellers about bears in Japan.
www.nytimes.com
Although nobody was hurt in the sightings over the last week or so, encounters between humans and bears in Iwate are the latest examples of a nationwide surge that is testing Japan's traditional belief in harmonious coexistence with nature. Bear encounters are on the rise in Japan. They have been spotted in northern ski towns and southern villages, and on the outskirts of cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. The United States, Canada and the United Kingdom have issued warnings to travellers about bears in Japan.
Brazen Japanese Bears Are Breaking Into Homes and Raiding Pantries
Climate change and shifting demographics are driving the country’s Asiatic black bears closer to humans.
www.nytimes.com
