Following record bear sightings in 2025 and unusual winter activity, Japan's Tohoku municipalities are issuing spring warnings as bears emerge from hibernation, urging residents not to leave food or garbage outside.
Local governments in Tohoku— including Sendai, Iwate, Akita, and Miyagi—are warning of potential bear attacks this spring as the animals end hibernation.
Building on the Environment Ministry's record of 47,038 Asian black bear sightings nationwide from April to November 2025 (double the prior high) and continued winter incidents into 2026, officials emphasize precautions to avoid encounters. Key advice: do not leave food, garbage, or attractants outside homes.
Such alerts are annual in bear-prone Tohoku, but the recent surge underscores the need for vigilance during outdoor activities amid possible shifts in bear behavior due to habitat changes or food scarcity.