It’s open season on dangerous bears.
We have reported on how Japan was forced to mobilize police and military forces to tackle dangerous bear populations that caused over 70 attacks on human beings in the last month.
Initially, all reports were mentioning the work to ‘capture’ the beasts – but yesterday (5), the National Police Agency announced that they’ve ‘revised the rules’ to allow riot officers ‘to cull wild bears with rifles’.
The Japan Times reported:
“The police are set to cull bears in Akita and Iwate prefectures, which have seen an increase in attacks on residents, with operations scheduled to begin on Nov. 13 when the revisions take effect.
The NPA will dispatch riot police officers to the two prefectures on Thursday to begin training.
Police have previously focused on ensuring the safety of residents and providing information about bear sightings. Due to a shortage of hunters, however, the NPA decided to take part in direct culling after receiving requests for support from the two prefectures.”
Japan is deploying troops to a mountainous region of Akita, besieged by bears.
Since April, bears have injured more than 100 and killed 13 people — the highest toll over the past decade. pic.twitter.com/6vgkxx6STO
— DW News (@dwnews) November 7, 2025
Japan declares WAR on surging wild bear population
Troops deployed to rugged northern regions to set traps
Over 100 bear attacks since April
A dozen people mauled to death pic.twitter.com/h7x5gKVRBR
— RT (@RT_com) November 5, 2025
The rules on ‘special firearms’ such as rifles have been revised, and wildlife control was added as a permitted use.
“In both prefectures, two teams of four people each have been formed to respond to the situation. Each team consists of two shooters, a commander and a liaison officer responsible for coordinating with municipalities.
They will cull urban bears only in situations that appear difficult for licensed local hunters to handle.”
Now, victims of beat attacks want the police to act decisively.
Reuters reported:
“The bear pinned him down and mauled [Keiji Minatoya], leaving deep gashes across his face, bite marks along his arm and torso, and nearly scalping him before running off. Emergency services airlifted Minatoya 60 km (37 miles) to Akita city to save his life.
‘While it was on me, there was this terrifying roar, the sound of a wild animal. Its mouth was right here’, the 68-year-old said, pointing to his ear. “That sound is burned into my head’.”
Empty buildings in the area make it easier for bears to wander in from the forested mountains that surround his town.
“He thinks authorities must be ruthless with bears that no longer fear human settlements. The animals are also venturing into bustling cities, with sightings around Kyoto and Tokyo on the rise.
“’Bears that attack have learned that humans are weak’, Minatoya said. He says he doesn’t hate all bears. But about the creature that almost claimed his life? ‘I would eat it’, he said.”
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