Footage of an Asiatic black bear captured by the program’s drone. The footage was taken in a mountain forest in Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture. Three days ago, a woman was found dead just 400 meters from here while gathering wild vegetables. The woman is believed to have been attacked by a bear, and there has been no information that the bear has been captured in the area.
In the past week, there have been a series of incidents of people being attacked by bears while gathering wild vegetables. Through our investigation, we have identified some precautions that are unique to this time of year.
■Exclusive Drone Footage: Is this the bear that attacked the woman? The left side of the screen shows footage from an infrared camera. Areas with high temperatures are shown in red. After searching the mountain forest from above with the drone for about 30 minutes, “There it is!” “What’s that?” At one point on the blue ground, there is a particularly high temperature, indicated by a red reaction… “Ah, there it is, a bear!” The source of the heat is an Asiatic black bear. “What is it doing…? It’s eating something.” “It’s eating, is it eating leaves…” Bear sightings have continued in various locations since the beginning of May. “Wow, it’s running, it suddenly started running.” Bears have been appearing almost daily in Akita Prefecture. In Gunma Prefecture, a bear was spotted near a bus stop in a tourist area. Furthermore, there have been a series of incidents where people have been attacked by bears while gathering wild vegetables, which are in season now. Three incidents have occurred in Yamagata Prefecture this month.
In Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture, the body of a 69-year-old woman who had gone missing after going out to gather wild vegetables was found on the 7th. There were scratches on the woman’s face that appeared to be from a bear. (An acquaintance of the victim) “She was close to my mother (wife), and when she got money from gathering wild vegetables, she would bring her beer, so it’s really sad…” The woman reportedly gathered wild vegetables in this area every year. (An acquaintance of the victim) “I think she was trying to pick some good wild vegetables by the roadside when the bear suddenly appeared, startling her and causing them to collide…” (Owner of an unmanned wild vegetable stand) “She was a good person, she and her father had worked hard to make a living with vegetables, so I wonder why she was attacked by a bear…” At this time of year, wild vegetables are a source of income for locals. The city has reported 22 bear sightings this year, double the number for the same period last year, and has issued a “state of emergency,” urging people to refrain from going into the mountains to pick wild vegetables. The local hunting association has set up box traps, but no bears have been caught yet.
■Bear captured 400m from where the body was found Is the bear that attacked the woman lurking in this forest…? An infrared drone takes a look from above… “There it is, there it is!” “What’s that? Oh, there it is, a bear!” The bear is sitting still in an open area of the forest. “It’s fairly close to a house,” said one observer. The bear was spotted about 400 meters from where the woman’s body was found. “Looks like a cub, it’s small. Judging by the infrared reaction around it, there doesn’t seem to be anyone else in the vicinity.” “Just one.” “What is it doing…? It’s eating something.” “It is eating, is it eating leaves…?” The bear started moving, repeatedly putting its head into the bushes and moving its mouth. About 20 minutes after being spotted, the bear disappeared into the depths of the forest.
■”Food = Wild Vegetables” Becomes Aggressive Upon Encounter with Humans Regarding this footage, an expert said… (Associate Professor Takayoshi Yamauchi, Iwate University) “At this time of year, bears like to eat new shoots and wild vegetables, so it may have been looking for bamboo shoots. Those are a favorite food for bears.” After hibernation, bears move around in search of food. It is highly likely that they are also targeting wild vegetables in populated areas. (Associate Professor Takayoshi Yamauchi, Iwate University) “Wild vegetables grow at lower altitudes where it’s warmer, so they gradually grow further up the mountain, and it’s inevitable that you’ll encounter them unexpectedly.” What are the countermeasures? (Associate Professor Takayoshi Yamauchi, Iwate University) “First of all, it’s important to let them know you’re there. Carry a bell or a radio, or a whistle if necessary, and also bear spray so you can deal with it if you encounter a bear at close range.” From “Udo Times” on May 10 [TV Asahi NEWS] https://news.tv-asahi.co.jp
