A Record Surge in Bear Attacks
Japan has experienced an unprecedented rise in bear attacks on people. Between April 2025 and March 2026, encounters with bears killed 13 people and injured more than 220. The combined population of Hokkaido brown bears and Asian black bears is estimated at more than 57,000 animals. In 2025, around 50,000 bear sightings near homes and settlements were logged. These record figures have turned human–bear conflict into a national policy issue.
In response, a government plan approved in 2026 classifies bears as a threat to public safety. Its aim is to reduce bear numbers to between 62 and 67 percent of current levels by 2030 through controlled culling. In the prefectures of Gunma, Toyama, and Ishikawa, AI-equipped cameras are being installed in forested areas to recognize bears.
High-Tech Deterrents and Tracking Tools
Hokkaido is also deploying drone systems that can take to the air within ten minutes after a threat is detected. International studies put the effectiveness of drones at 91 percent in deterring bears. In addition, specially trained Finnish laika dogs are being used to drive bears away from populated areas.
Another measure is the solar-powered animatronic device Monster Wolf, which costs about 3,500 euros. Developers are readying a portable version roughly 20 centimeters tall for tourists and anglers, with testing planned for late 2026.
To gather data on bears and monitor risks along hiking trails, the Kumamap app has been launched. As of August, around 6 million people had used it. These steps are designed to safeguard residents and reduce the risk of bear attacks across Japan.
The recent spike in attacks underscores how human activity and shifts in predators' habitats can influence bear behavior. Even so, plans to reduce bear numbers worry ecologists, who are calling for balanced approaches to human–wildlife coexistence.