Thu Nov 06 06:05:57 UTC 2025: News Article:
Japan Deploys Military to Combat Surge in Deadly Bear Attacks
Akita Prefecture, Japan – Facing a dramatic increase in bear attacks that have left at least 12 dead and over 100 injured since April, the Japanese government has deployed troops to the mountainous Akita prefecture in northern Japan. The move comes as reports of bear encounters near residential areas, schools, train stations, and even hot springs resorts become increasingly common before the hibernation season.
The Ministry of Defense and Akita prefecture signed an agreement Wednesday that troops will set box traps with food, transport local hunters and help dispose of dead bears. Military personnel, equipped with bear spray and net launchers, will assist in trapping and relocating the animals but are not authorized to open fire.
The surge in bear activity is attributed to the growing bear population, estimated at over 54,000, encroaching upon residential areas in a region experiencing rapid aging and population decline. The lack of trained hunters further exacerbates the situation.
“Every day, bears intrude into residential areas in the region and their impact is expanding,” stated Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Fumitoshi Sato. “Responses to the bear problem are an urgent matter.”
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi emphasized that while the military aims to secure people’s daily lives, their primary mission remains national defense, limiting the extent of support they can provide. In Akita prefecture, bears have attacked over 50 people since May, resulting in at least four fatalities.
Experts attribute the growing problem to Japan’s ageing rural population and advocate for culling measures to control the bear population, which is not currently considered endangered.
First Piper 