The governor of a prefecture is contemplating requesting military assistance to address the rising number of bear attacks amid a burgeoning bear population numbering in the thousands.
Previously, knowledge of how to respond to a bear encounter was primarily relevant to hikers and foragers in Japan’s wilderness. Today, however, residents in urban and suburban areas are being advised to familiarize themselves with safety measures as bears increasingly venture out of their natural environments in search of sustenance.
Reports of bear incidents have become nearly daily occurrences. Recently, in Akita prefecture, bears assaulted a runner and a pedestrian within residential zones, and in another incident, one bear frightened four individuals before taking refuge inside a nearby home. Fortunately, none of those involved sustained serious injuries.
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