Canada issues major travel warnings for Japan after fatal bear attacks

This Aug. 12, 2009 photo shows a grizzly bear traveling across the Porcupine River Tundra in the Yukon. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Due to a reported uptick in bear attacks in northern Japan, the federal government is warning travellers to be vigilant.

In an updated travel advisory shared Friday, the federal government warned Canadian residents of “an increased presence of bears” in northern Japan, with sightings in urban areas, resorts and hiking trails, with some incidents having “resulted in casualties.”

“If you plan on visiting northern Japan ... always be aware of your surroundings and stay vigilant; avoid walking alone in areas where bears have been sighted, (and) follow the warnings or alerts issued by local authorities,” the advisory said.

According to AFP, 13 people have been killed by bears across Japan since April. The Japanese government is requesting former soldiers and police officers to assist in culling the animals. Bears have been reported in residential areas, “roaming near schools and rampaging in supermarkets.”

The advisory warns about bears in the northern Akita, Niigata, and Hokkaido regions. The government of Hokkaido advises people to make noise, travel in groups during daylight hours, take food and garbage home, avoid bear droppings and footprints, and research bear sightings before entering an area.

The Japanese military has been deployed to help deal with the bear problem. The Japanese government estimates the bear population to be more than 54,000.

In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, five people were killed by the animals.

On Thursday, Japanese media reported that the country revised a law to allow police to use rifles to shoot bears.

“Each (region) will have two teams consisting of a commanding officer, a liaison to local authorities and two snipers,” according to the Japanese newspaper, The Mainichi. The newspaper previously reported that police had evacuated local residents and were patrolling school routes where bears had been sighted.

Along with the culling teams, the Japanese government is “building fences and implementing other tactics to discourage bears from entering populated areas.” The bear attacks have been linked to a rise in fake, AI-created images that show “a horde of bears destroying solar panels at a megasolar facility and a bear snatching a pet dog.”