The federal government has issued a travel warning for Japan after an increase in fatal bear attacks in that country.
The government issued the warning on Nov. 14, saying, “There is an increased presence of bears in northern Japan, including in urban areas, resorts and hiking trails,” and noted that “some encounters have resulted in casualties.”
The government is recommending that Canadians in the region avoid walking alone, and said travellers should follow local warnings.
There have been more than 100 bear attacks in Japan since April, with 13 people killed across the country, according to Japan’s environment ministry.
Japanese authorities have said that in Akita, located in the northern part of the country, bear sightings are up sixfold to more than 8,000. The local governor recently asked for the military to cull the bear population in the region.
The Canadian government notes the increased presence of bears in northern Japan has included the Akita, Niigata, Hokkaido prefectures.
It has also advised Canadians to be aware of their surroundings and to stay vigilant.
Japan deployed troops to the north of the country on Nov. 5 to control bears in the area after local authorities said they were struggling with the number of attacks.
The troops will help capture the bears and transport them. The bears will later be shot by hunters that have been hired to cull their numbers.
An increasing number of bears, coupled with shifts in natural foods sources and the depopulation of rural areas, have been bringing people into more contact with bears. Hunters have found themselves overwhelmed trying to deal with the problem.
Bears in the area have attacked customers who were inside a supermarket, as well as a tourist walking to a bus stop near a UNESCO World Heritage site. A bear also attacked a worker at a hot spring resort.
These attacks usually peak in October and November as the animals are searching for food before they enter hibernation.
Japanese black bears are common in the country and can weigh up to 265 pounds. Brown bears are usually on the northern island of Hokkaido, and they can weigh more than 1,300 pounds.
The government relaxed its gun rules in September, which now allow municipal authorities to ask licensed hunters to cull or capture the animals.
As part of the law change, hunters are required to ensure the safety of affected communities by restricting traffic and cooperating with police to evacuate residents.
Guy Birchall and Reuters contributed to this report.
