Record Bear attacks leave Seven dead in Japan amid Climate Change concerns

Japan has recorded a new high in bear-related deaths this year, with seven people killed, the highest toll since records began in 2006, according to the country’s environment ministry. The surge in attacks has been linked to food shortages and the effects of climate change.

Officials revealed that the number surpassed the previous record of five deaths recorded in the 2023–2024 fiscal year. Over 100 others have also suffered injuries, including bites and deep claw wounds.

Authorities confirmed that a man in his 70s found dead on October 8 in Iwate Prefecture had been killed by a bear, bringing the total fatalities to seven. Reports from local media stated that the man’s head and torso had been separated. Two other elderly men, also in their 70s, were found dead days later in Iwate and Nagano, though the exact causes of death are still under investigation.

Experts say that warmer temperatures are altering hibernation patterns and food availability for bears, particularly acorns, forcing the animals into human-populated areas in search of food. Brown bears, which can weigh up to 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) and run faster than humans, have been increasingly spotted in towns.

In one alarming incident last week, a 1.4-meter bear wandered into a supermarket in Gunma, injuring two elderly men. Surveillance footage showed the bear knocking over goods, damaging a fish section, and trampling a pile of avocados before escaping.

Elsewhere, a Spanish tourist was attacked at a bus stop in Shirakawa-go, while five people were reported injured on Thursday in Akita and Fukushima prefectures. In Kitakami, Iwate, a resort worker went missing, with bloodstains discovered during a search.

Japan is home to two bear species — the Asian black bear and the larger brown bear found on Hokkaido Island. Although thousands of bears are culled annually, a shortage of hunters due to Japan’s aging population has made population control increasingly difficult.