Japan is struggling to handle a growing wave of desperate and dangerous ‘Bear Attacks’

Japan is facing a terrifying problem: bears are attacking people more often, and no one seems to know how to stop it. The situation has gotten so serious that a hunter recently went missing in Mount Esan, Hokkaido. All that was found was his rifle and some bloodstains. A large bear had been seen nearby just days before, and many fear the worst.

This isn’t an isolated case. Just recently, a 52-year-old newspaper deliveryman was found dead in the bushes, killed by what looked like powerful bear claw attacks. Witnesses saw the bear but couldn’t scare it off, no matter how loudly they shouted. A day earlier, in a different part of Japan, a man found his 81-year-old mother dead in her home, clearly attacked by a wild animal. Bear fur was found at the scene.

In other regions, bears are breaking into homes, smashing windows, and attacking elderly residents. Two elderly women in different prefectures were attacked this week alone. Police and local officials are growing increasingly anxious as they struggle to keep up with this growing threat.

In response, the government has passed a new law allowing emergency shootings of bears if they are seen in towns or cities. But there’s a catch: very few people in Japan have guns, so it’s unclear who can actually help. Authorities have now declared a “bear emergency,” urging people to stay indoors and keep food waste locked away to avoid attracting hungry animals.

So why is this happening now? It’s a mix of problems. Japan’s rural towns are shrinking as more people move to cities. Many elderly farmers are retiring or passing away, leaving land and farms empty. This gives bears more room to move closer to towns and learn how to get around buildings. At the same time, there’s been a shortage of the wild foods bears usually rely on, like acorns and nuts, which means they’re starving and getting more aggressive.

There’s no simple fix to this crisis. The bears are desperate, and people are scared. It’s a dangerous situation that’s only getting worse. If you’re a skilled hunter or tracker, Japan might just be in need of your help more than ever.