A search is underway in Utsunomiya, Japan, for a black bear that has been sighted multiple times, leading to the closure of 94 municipal schools for a second consecutive day. The bear, estimated to weigh 100 kg, was last seen near a university campus.
The increasing frequency of bear sightings and attacks in urban areas of Japan highlights the growing impact of climate change and rural depopulation on wildlife behavior, posing a direct risk to public safety and necessitating government intervention.
The search for a black bear sighted multiple times in the Japanese city of Utsunomiya continued on Tuesday, prompting the closure of all 94 municipal primary and middle schools for a second consecutive day. The adult bear, estimated to weigh around 100 kg, was last seen early Tuesday morning approximately 700 meters from a university campus. This sighting is believed to be the same bear seen on Saturday evening, marking the first-ever ursine sighting in the city, located about 100 km north of Tokyo.
Bear attacks in Japan, including in urban areas, have been on the rise. The government established a task force this year to address the increasing casualties, which reached a record 238 victims, including 13 deaths, in fiscal year 2025, according to the environment ministry. Asiatic black bears are considered a vulnerable species globally, but their numbers in Japan are estimated to have tripled since 2012, partly due to a decline in hunting.
A Utsunomiya city official stated that a coordinated search effort involving municipal and prefectural staff, the fire department, and members of the hunters' association is ongoing. The decision on how to handle the bear—whether to tranquilize, shoot, or trap it for release—will depend on where it is found. Experts suggest that climate change has reduced the availability of natural food sources like acorns and beechnuts for bears. Additionally, the depopulation of rural areas and the spread of abandoned farmland have made these animals bolder in seeking food near human settlements.