Japan Hokkaido, Urban Area 'Bear' Sightings Emergency... "Hibernation Failure Due to Global Warming"

Increased Resident Anxiety Due to Urban Sightings
Hibernation Delayed and Shortened by Global Warming

In Hokkaido, Japan, authorities are struggling as bears keep appearing in urban areas. Despite it being the season when bears should already be hibernating, bears that have failed to hibernate are coming down from the mountains and frequently appearing in city areas, increasing residents' anxiety. Experts analyze that this situation is occurring because global warming has raised temperatures, causing bears to start hibernation late or wake up early.

A bear spotted on the Nemuro City road last August. (Photo by ANN News Channel)

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun on the 18th, in Muroran City in southern Hokkaido, the number of bear sightings in the city this year reached 10, a significant increase compared to 6 last year. Previously, the number of bear sightings in the city was only 1 in 2021.

Especially as bears that failed to hibernate keep coming down to urban areas, Muroran City authorities are using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to track bears and conducting outdoor training where local hunters capture and shoot bears.

Bear appearances in the city are occurring frequently not only in Muroran City but throughout Hokkaido. On the 4th, there was a commotion when a bear entered a lumber warehouse in central Ashibetsu City. At that time, the police and Ashibetsu City authorities issued a request for residents to refrain from going out due to concerns about bear attacks. Authorities tried to capture the bear as much as possible, but the agitated bear charged at a hunter, who eventually fired a rifle and killed it.

Sapporo City is also taking measures as bear appearances in residential areas have surged. On the 6th, Sapporo City conducted a bear status survey using drones. In Sapporo, to prevent bear incidents during school commute times, school staff are watching over children on their way home, and children carry bells to scare away bears.

Cases of bears coming down to city areas and attacking residents are also increasing. In April, in Akkeshi Town, Hokkaido, a woman walking her dog was attacked by a bear and suffered serious injuries to her head and legs.

In response, the Hokkaido Prefectural Government has created a "Bear Hazard Map" marking each area where bears appear and is sharing it with residents. Green indicates areas where bears live, and the risk of bear appearances is divided into five levels. Sapporo City’s Minami Ward, surrounded by mountains and urban areas, is classified as a high-risk area for bear appearances.

Experts point out that the rise in temperature due to global warming is affecting bear appearances. Bears are going into hibernation late or waking up earlier, increasing their activity even in winter. Michito Shimozuru, a professor at Hokkaido University’s Veterinary Research Institute, said, "It is known overseas that the higher the outdoor temperature in winter, the shorter the hibernation period. While it is normal for bears to hibernate in December, there will be a certain number of individuals that start late."

In fact, in Sapporo, where bear sightings have sharply increased, the average temperature in November this year was 6.7 degrees Celsius, 1.5 degrees higher than usual. TV Asahi reported, "In the United States, research shows that for every 1-degree rise in winter minimum temperature, the bear hibernation period shortens by six days," adding, "In Hokkaido, there is a possibility of encountering bears that have woken from hibernation when entering the mountains in winter."

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