Bear captured in Utsunomiya, Japan after unprecedented sighting forces closure of 94 schools

A bear was captured in Utsunomiya, Japan, after its first-ever sighting in the city prompted the closure of 94 schools. The incident, which ended with no injuries, highlights a nationwide surge in human-bear conflicts. Japan's bear population has grown, leading to a record 13 deaths last year and prompting government responses including systematic culls and warnings to residents and travelers.

Utsunomiya bear capture

• ▪All 94 public primary and middle schools in Utsunomiya were closed on June 8 and June 9, 2026, due to the sightings
• ▪Utsunomiya officials issued warnings via social media and public announcement vehicles, urging residents to lock doors and windows
• ▪The capture followed the first-ever bear sighting in the city, which began on Saturday, June 6, 2026, near a park
• ▪City officials used a drone on June 9, 2026, to track the bear after it was seen at a university campus
• ▪A bear was captured in Utsunomiya, Japan, on June 9, 2026, after being shot with a tranquilizer gun by a veterinarian
• ▪No people were injured during the multi-day incident in Utsunomiya

Japan bear population growth

• ▪Japan's national bear population was estimated at around 57,800 by the government in March 2026
• ▪The population of Asiatic black bears in Japan is estimated to have tripled since 2012
• ▪There are an estimated 12,000 to 42,000 Asiatic black bears on Japan's main island of Honshu
• ▪Experts believe factors like rural depopulation and fluctuations in natural food sources are pushing bears into human-inhabited areas

Human-bear conflict incidents

• ▪Due to a rise in attacks, the U.S. State Department warned American travelers in Japan to be alert for bears in 2025
• ▪In the week before the Utsunomiya capture, a bear attacked four people at a steel factory in Fukushima
• ▪Between April and June 2, 2026, bear attacks killed three people and injured 20 more across at least nine prefectures
• ▪A record 13 people were killed by bears in Japan in the year ending March 2026

Bear management responses

• ▪A Japanese company making "Monster Wolf" animatronic scarecrows is experiencing high demand due to the increase in bear attacks
• ▪A government task force was established in 2026 to help reduce casualties from bear attacks
• ▪The Japanese government has adopted a management plan that includes systematic culls of bears