Beware of bears: This is the stark warning given by the US Embassy to Americans living in Japan, after a record wave of attacks in recent months.
“Bear sightings and attacks have increased in parts of Japan, especially in municipalities near or bordering populated areas,” Wildlife alert he said, adding that Americans should “be aware of their surroundings.”
She added that they should “report these sightings to local authorities” in Japan, where about 100 people have been attacked in the country since April and at least 13 people have been killed, according to the country’s environment ministry, the highest toll in more than 10 years.
The attacks occurred near populated areas, especially in the northern mountainous areas, and occurred near supermarkets, bus stations, schools and even a hot springs resort.
The embassy indicated that Maruyama Park in the northern city of Sapporo, adjacent to the US Consulate General, was closed for two weeks on Tuesday after a brown bear was seen there on a number of occasions.
Iwate Hanamaki Airport in the northeastern Japanese city of Hanamaki said the runway was also temporarily closed after the bear was spotted there.
As local authorities struggled to deal with the situation, the military stepped in at their request earlier this month to help in Akita Prefecture in northern Japan.
Troops from the country’s self-defense force, armed with bear spray and shields, will help carry and set steel-bar traps to catch the bears, transport local hunters who shoot them and help dispose of the carcasses.
Military commander Yasunori Matsunaga said at the time: “We are aware that the damage caused by bears is critical.”
Experts believe bear numbers are growing because they have more habitat as people move from rural areas to cities. Climate change has also been cited as a factor due to its impact on food supplies and hibernation patterns.
Japan is home to two main species of bears, including the Asiatic black bear and the Hokkaido brown bear.
It is not uncommon for the United States to issue alerts for wildlife in a foreign country. Japan currently has a Level 1 travel warning, the least severe on a four-point scale, indicating that travelers should “take normal precautions.”