A man in Japan successfully defended himself against a bear inside a public toilet early Friday morning, an incident that underscores a dramatic and concerning surge in human-bear encounters across the country this season.
The attack occurred in Gunma prefecture, north of Tokyo, when a 69-year-old security guard was preparing to leave the facility. According to reports, the man noticed the animal, estimated to be between one and 1.5 meters in length, looking into the building. In the ensuing confrontation, the man fell backward but managed to fight off the bear by kicking at it, causing the animal to retreat. He sustained minor injuries to his right leg but was able to reach a nearby police station to alert authorities. The incident took place close to a railway station that was closed overnight.
This alarming event is part of a broader, unprecedented trend. Official figures indicate that since April, bear attacks in Japan have resulted in a record 13 fatalities, with the total number of incidents reaching 197. The northern prefecture of Akita has been the most affected, followed by Iwate and Fukushima. The current annual tally is on track to surpass the previous record of 219 attacks set last year.
Wildlife experts attribute the spike in encounters to a scarcity of natural food sources, specifically acorns and beechnuts, in the bears’ forest habitats. This shortage is driving the animals into residential neighborhoods and urban areas in search of sustenance.
In response to the crisis, authorities have deployed members of the Self-Defense Forces to assist local hunters in trapping bears in high-risk areas. Additionally, police officers have been authorized to shoot the animals due to a shortage of licensed hunters available for the task.
The situation has been further complicated by the spread of misinformation. One local government in northeastern Japan was forced to issue an apology this week after it was discovered that an image it posted on social media to warn residents about bears was artificially generated. The fabricated photo, which depicted a large bear on a nighttime road, was removed after the creator came forward. Officials acknowledged the post had caused unnecessary alarm among residents.