Black Bear Captured in Utsunomiya After Urban Hunt

Mon Jun 15 2026 08:37:06 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A black bear roaming Utsunomiya near Tokyo was tranquilised and caught after 20 sightings, sparking fears about rising bear encounters in rural Japan.

Japanese authorities finally subdued a black bear that had roamed the Utsunomiya streets for days, after multiple tranquiliser shots and a 100‑km‑hunting team. The bear, weighing around 100 kg, had been seen near homes, schools and parks, prompting the closure of 94 schools. The incident comes amid a trend of increased bear attacks across Japan, with 238 reported victims in 2025 alone. Rural depopulation and food‑scarcity push bears into suburban areas, and officials are now exploring drones and robotic deterrents to prevent future conflicts.

Japanese authorities finally brought a black bear caught roaming around a city near Tokyo under control on Tuesday. The half‑kilometre‑shipped animal, estimated at about 100 kg, was tranquilised after being sighted more than 20 times since Saturday, near homes, schools and parks, and even swimming in a river.

A veterinarian fired the first tranquiliser shot at the creature in Utsunomiya (population half a million) but missed, before a second and third were fired about 15 minutes apart. Officials spent 1 hour 40 minutes capturing the bear, located 2.5 km south of the main railway station, according to Utsunomiya East Police.

The unprecedented sightings forced the closure of all 94 public primary and middle schools in the city, and officials urged residents to keep doors and windows locked. Two bears are suspected to be in the area, amid reports that a separate, “extremely intelligent” bear remains in Fukushima city after injuring four people and breaking into an electronics factory.

Japan recorded a record 238 bear‑attack victims in 2025, including 13 fatalities, according to the environment ministry. The rise is attributed to bears seeking food as seed crops decline, combined with depopulating rural areas that reduce human presence to deter them. Ecological changes may also shift hibernation periods, extending the active season.

In response, the government established a ministerial task force and launched emergency measures earlier this year. Local governments and businesses are turning to technology: a Fukushima village is testing AI‑powered trail‑camera analysis, KDDI SmartDrone offers unmanned aircraft system tracking with thermal cameras, and the 2016‑launched “Super Monster Wolf” robotic wolf has seen a surge in orders.

A drone search for the remaining Fukushima bear has begun, as officials struggle to capture an animal that even used a tap handle to drink water, showcasing its intelligence.