Japan's Bear Damage Surge Leads to DNA Diet Study for Risk Management

In 2025, bear-related incidents in Japan rose to a record 238 injuries, including 13 deaths, with over 14,700 bears captured—the highest numbers since monitoring began. The increase, concentrated in six northeastern prefectures, has prompted authorities to devise a "Bear Damage Countermeasures Roadmap" targeting population control through scientific data.

To better predict and prevent future attacks, BioInsight Co. is offering DNA metabarcoding analysis of bear, deer and boar scat and stomach contents. This technique identifies plant and animal DNA fragments, revealing seasonal diet shifts and the extent of agricultural crop dependence, enabling municipalities to prioritize buffer zones, attractant management and targeted captures.

Commentary notes that bear incidents are no longer confined to remote mountain areas; urban encounters have occurred, exemplified by a 2020 Shanghai safari park attack. Experts caution that, as bears emerge from hibernation each spring, the risk period extends through summer and autumn, underscoring the need for proactive, science‑based mitigation across both rural and metropolitan settings.