Authorities in a Japanese city continued their search Tuesday for a large black bear that has prompted officials to keep all 94 elementary and middle schools closed for the second day in a row.
The fully-grown bear, weighing approximately 100 kilograms (220 pounds), was most recently observed early Tuesday morning roughly 700 meters (765 yards) away from a university campus, city officials reported. Authorities believe this is the same animal first spotted Saturday evening, marking the initial bear sighting ever documented in the city located about 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Tokyo.
Japan has experienced a rise in bear encounters, including incidents within urban environments, leading the government to establish a task force this year focused on reducing casualties. During the 2025 fiscal year, the nation documented a record-breaking 238 victims, with 13 fatalities, the environment ministry reported.
While Asiatic black bears hold vulnerable species status worldwide, their population in Japan has reportedly grown threefold since 2012, aided by decreased hunting activities.
A city official from Utsunomiya explained that search teams comprising municipal and prefectural personnel, fire department members, and hunters’ association representatives are actively tracking the animal. The official noted that once located, teams will determine whether to use tranquilizers, lethal force, or capture methods for relocation based on the bear’s location.
Researchers attribute the increase in bear encounters to climate change, which has diminished natural food sources such as acorns and beechnuts. Additionally, rural population decline and the growth of abandoned agricultural land have encouraged bears to venture closer to populated areas in search of sustenance.
