Fukushima Black Bear Escapes After Attacking Four People

In Fukushima Prefecture, a black bear attacked four people at an auto‑parts factory and a neighbouring plant before taking refuge inside a factory building. Hunt teams deployed traps and tranquiliser guns for more than 24 hours, but the bear evaded capture, reportedly opening a window to escape and drinking from a faucet inside the building.

Mayor Yuki Baba halted the chase after the bear slipped out, urging residents to stay vigilant. The incident highlights Japan’s rising bear‑human conflicts: 13 people were killed by bears in 2025, a national record, and over 50,000 sightings were logged last year, double the previous peak. Officials attribute the surge to shrinking farmland, rural depopulation and food shortages in mountain forests, with the Tohoku region now home to more than 19,000 black bears. Authorities have intensified hunting efforts, deploying police and soldiers to affected areas.