Bear Sightings Surge Across Japan, Including Residential Areas and Hibernation in Abandoned Homes

Bear sightings have dramatically increased across Japan, with over four times more reports in Akita Prefecture than last year. Hunters were deployed during a marathon in Hanamaki City, and experts suggest bears might be hibernating in abandoned houses due to changing environments.

Sun Apr 26 2026

Bear Sightings Soar Across Japan, Prompting Alarms

Bear sightings have recently surged across Japan, raising significant concerns among residents. In Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, a marathon event saw hunting associations deployed to protect participants from potential bear encounters, firing fireworks to ensure safety. On the same day, a bear was spotted in Hanamaki City, and a police officer suffered severe injuries in an attack in neighboring Shiwa Town.

Bears Invading Residential Areas: Is It Due to Abandoned Houses?

Akita Prefecture recorded 277 bear sightings in April alone, a roughly 4.2-fold increase compared to the same period last year. In Akita City's residential areas, security cameras captured bears swinging on swings and roaming the streets—an unprecedented situation. Officials from the Hanamaki City Hunting Association and experts suggest that abandoned houses and derelict buildings might be serving as new hibernation sites for bears. They noted that these locations offer an undisturbed environment with stable temperatures, ideal for bears seeking winter refuge.

Anti-Bear Robot Deployed to Search Abandoned Homes

Bankisha deployed a four-legged robot, developed to avoid bear encounters, to search abandoned homes. Equipped with thermal and main cameras, the robot detects the presence of bears. The search revealed paw prints, believed to be from bears, around abandoned houses and confirmed accessible crawl spaces and gaps under these structures that bears could easily enter and hide in. Experts warn that the increasing number of abandoned homes may contribute to the rise in urban bear sightings.

*Source: YouTube: 日テレNEWS (2026-04-26)*

Tags: #Bears #Akita Prefecture #Hanamaki City #Abandoned Homes #Hibernation #Hunting Association #Anti-Bear Robot