"Too Hot" Bears Unable to Hibernate Due to Global Warming... Another Attack on Japanese Homes

"Gom Toechi Spray Was Useless," Complains
Increased Frequency of Bears Unable to Hibernate in Winter

An 80-year-old woman living in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, was attacked by a bear during a walk, resulting in severe facial skin injuries. Recently, due to the warm climate in Japan, bears that fail to hibernate have increasingly been coming down to residential areas.

On the 29th (local time), the Japanese media outlet Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Ms. A (83), who lives in Higashi Azumacho, Gunma Prefecture, suffered serious injuries after encountering a bear during her walk. Ms. A has a habit of walking alone along the riverside path for about 30 minutes every morning, and the morning of the 18th of last month at 7 a.m. was no different.

However, on that day, a large black figure suddenly appeared during her walk and scratched Ms. A's face in an instant. As a result, her glasses flew off, and half of the skin on the right side of her face was peeled off and bleeding.

A bear spotted in the Hokkaido region of Japan. Recently, bears have been frequently coming down to cities and towns in Japan.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The bear did not continue to attack Ms. A and fled the scene. However, Ms. A had to be hospitalized for three weeks due to these injuries. Even after discharge, the right half of her face lost sensation, and her right eye could not open. Additionally, due to trauma, she can no longer take walks and has become so sensitive that even small sounds startle her.

In an interview with local media, Ms. A revealed that she had seen a bear during a walk a year ago. She also carried bear repellent spray on the day of the incident, but it was of no help when she actually encountered the bear. She expressed, "There are limits to personal measures."

Recently, some regions in Japan, including Gunma Prefecture, have been troubled by frequent bear appearances. According to government investigations, from April to October this year, 180 people were attacked by bears, with five fatalities among them. This is the highest number since related investigations began in 2006.

The reason bears are attacking people is climate change. Because the weather remains relatively warm even in winter, bears fail to hibernate, and since fruits do not grow as well as before, they come down the mountains in search of food.

The Japanese Ministry of the Environment also analyzed the cause, stating, "The main food of bears, such as acorns, has suffered a poor harvest," and "bears searching for food have been invading residential areas." The Ministry has begun preparing measures to prevent bear damage and plans to make decisions after consulting experts.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.