Japan steps up bear response as sightings reach record levels

In early 2026 Japan saw a surge in bear sightings, with Shimane Prefecture reporting 379 reports in just two months—the highest count since records began in 2003. The increase prompted local authorities to enhance preparedness.

At the Shimane Ocean Museum (AquaS), police, fire crews and about 80 museum staff conducted a drill simulating a bear intrusion. Participants practiced evacuating visitors, using drones to assess safety, and employing deterrents such as car horns and fireworks. The museum’s director noted that a manual for emergency bear incidents had been drafted the previous year.

Meanwhile, in Toyama Prefecture’s town of Nyuzen, officials captured and shot a 1.05‑metre, 50‑kilogram male bear that had been repeatedly sighted near the mouth of the Kurobe River. The emergency capture was authorised by the prefectural government after the animal was seen near a lighthouse and a nearby park, and officials confirmed the bear matched footprints from earlier reports.