Japan's Shizukuishi town hunts bear that broke into homes

A large Asiatic black bear entered the kitchen of an 87‑year‑old couple in Shizukuishi, Iwate prefecture, opening the refrigerator and scattering food. Police were called after the incident, and officials now suspect the same bear may be responsible for up to 14‑15 break‑ins at homes, farms and a confectionery shop over the past two weeks.

Authorities have responded by setting box traps, installing electric fences around repeatedly targeted houses, and deploying patrols to warn residents. Bear specialist Shiho Chida noted the animal’s repeated attempts to enter the same locations and the use of a homemade mustard mixture by a farmer to deter it. The bear has also been seen trying to open sliding doors and raiding a dairy‑feed storage area on a farm.

The incidents come amid a surge in bear attacks across northern Japan, with at least five human deaths since April and a record 13 fatalities nationwide in the previous fiscal year. Experts attribute the rise to a growing bear population, rural depopulation and changing food availability, prompting heightened concern among local communities.