U.S. issues unusual warning to Americans in Japan: Beware of bear attacks

The U.S. State Department is warning Americans in Japan to be vigilant as bear attacks and sightings increase in parts of the country.

Americans should avoid areas where bears are seen, especially if they are walking alone, and be aware of their surroundings, the State Department said in a “wildlife alert” Wednesday. Anyone who sees a bear should report it to local authorities.

Bears have killed at least 13 people in Japan since April, more than double the five people killed in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, AFP reported. This is the the greatest number of people killed by bears in Japan since the country began keeping such records in 2006. More than 100 other people have been injured since April, according to Environment Ministry statistics from late October.

Most of the attacks took place in northern Japan. In its alert, the State Department called out the prefectures of Hokkaido and Akita, as well as the city of Sapporo, where authorities closed a park next to the American consulate general after a bear was seen there.

Troops were recently deployed in Akita to contain the animals. Some police officers were authorized to shoot the animals, AFP reported.

U.S. citizens must enroll in the Smart-Traveler Enrollment program, which makes it easier to receive security messages from the State Department and make it easier to locate Americans in an emergency, the State Department said.

The State Department regularly issues warnings and every country in the world has received a notice to designated travelers. Japan’s travel warning level remains at 1, meaning travelers should “exercise normal precautions.” But it’s rare for U.S. officials to warn about wildlife in a foreign country. The State Department did not immediately respond to a question asking how many such warnings had been issued.

Bears have been seen near schools, in supermarkets and even near Iwate Hanamaki Airport. Experts say the country aging and declining rural population contributed to the problem. As Japan’s population declines, humans are leaving rural areas and bears are moving in.

“Then this area reverted to forest, which gives the bears a chance to expand their range,” said biologist Koji Yamazaki of Tokyo Agricultural University. told CBS News“Elizabeth Palmer in 2023.

Older local hunters are also unaccustomed to bear hunting, and few preventative measures have been taken in recent years. Climate change has also affected bear hibernation schedules and impacted foods the animals depend on.

Japan has two types of bears: the Asian black bears found throughout the continent – ​​also known as moon bears – and the larger brown bears which live on the main northern island of Hokkaido. Brown bears can weigh more than 1,100 pounds and outrun humans. Asian black bears are climbers and are smaller, weighing about 440 pounds at most, according to the International Association for Bear Research and Management. Thousands of bears are killed every year in Japan.