Japan issues bear warnings as food shortages drive sightings

The Ministry of the Environment has issued warnings regarding increased bear activity across several regions of Japan due to a poor harvest of essential forest nuts. According to preliminary survey data from 24 prefectures, crops such as beech, Mizunara oak, and Konara oak are seeing low yields in areas including Hokkaido, Tochigi, Gunma, Shiga, Kyoto, Hyogo, Nara, Tottori, and Yamaguchi.

In Hiroshima Prefecture, experts conducted field investigations at pear orchards in Miyoshi City following significant crop damage. In the Sakuki district, bears reportedly consumed vast quantities of fruit, with some orchards losing up to 200 pears in a single day. Experts noted that traditional electric fences are often ineffective on steep terrain due to gaps, suggesting a need for more complex, costly fencing solutions.

Environmental Minister Hiroyoshi Sasagawa has urged residents to stay informed through local government reports. Authorities warned that even in areas where forest food is plentiful, the presence of attractants like persimmon trees in residential areas can still draw bears into human settlements.