21 Comments on Japan governor calls for army to tackle deadly bear attacks

  5. I asked Grok about this a couple of days ago, after seeing this news. I asked a second time excluding Alaska, because while that is certainly part of USA it’s pretty much an outlier compared to Japan. Here is the result:

    In short, very few US deaths outside of places like Montana. Zero this year. Japan has NINE this year alone – and 2/3 are from their version of black bear, the other third from brown (grizzly) bears on the northern island of Hokkaido.
    Honestly, I think they are feeding them.

    Bear-Related Human Fatalities: Japan vs. USA (Excluding Alaska)Excluding Alaska significantly lowers U.S. totals, as the state accounts for ~30% of all American bear fatalities due to its high brown bear density and remote wilderness encounters. The continental U.S. (lower 48 states) sees fewer incidents, mostly involving black bears (predatory or defensive attacks) and grizzlies (territorial/protective in the Rockies). Japan’s figures remain unchanged, with a recent surge in Asiatic black bear attacks amid habitat pressures.Annual AveragesJapan: ~2–3 annually (2006–2024 average); 9 confirmed in 2025 (through October).
    USA (excl. Alaska): ~0.5–1 per year (all species). From 2000–2015, ~5–6 fatal attacks continent-wide annually (North America total ~12, minus ~6–7 in Alaska). Recent years: 1 in 2023 (grizzly in Montana), 1 in 2024 (grizzly in Wyoming).

    Historical Totals (Approximate, 2000–2025)Japan: ~35–40 fatalities.
    USA (excl. Alaska): 40–50 fatalities (70% by grizzlies/brown bears in MT/WY/ID; ~30% by black bears nationwide). Key hotspots: Glacier NP (MT: ~10 since 1967, mostly pre-2000), Yellowstone NP (WY: 8 since 1872). Since 1900, ~50 continental fatalities total.

    Metric
    Japan
    USA (excl. Alaska)
    Avg. Fatalities/Year (2000s–2020s)
    2–3
    0.5–1
    2025 Fatalities (YTD)
    9
    0 (none reported)
    Main Bear Species Involved
    Asiatic black bear (Honshu/Shikoku), Ezo brown bear (Hokkaido)
    Black bear (widespread), grizzly/brown bear (MT/WY/ID)
    Primary Locations
    Rural north (Iwate, Akita, Hokkaido); increasing in residential areas
    MT (Glacier NP: 10 since 1967), WY (Yellowstone: 8 since 1872), CO/NM (sporadic black bears)
    Risk Factors
    Food scarcity (e.g., poor beech nut crops), aging rural population, fewer hunters
    Wilderness recreation (hiking/camping), surprise encounters with mothers/cubs; black bears habituated to human food
    Total Since 2000
    ~35–40
    ~40–50

    6

  11. OT IO Trivia Pursuits
    I heard yesterday that Zelensky just bought a ranch.
    Guess where?
    They say Zelensky is the 9th largest foreign owner of American Lands.

    Is this TRUE???

    Why have we not heard MORE about this?
    How does Zelensky have the MONEY to buy nearly a nearly 1 (ONE) Million Acre Ranch in the middle of his countries war?

    Is this for real?

    2

  12. Wanna bet Ted Nugent has a solution? And what do they mean, rural DEpopulation? People are moving back to the cities so the bears are following them? Never heard of such a thing…

    3

  13. Leave the bears alone. They don’t like having their pictures taken.

    And stop feeding… THE DEER!!!!!!! There’s an overabundant deer population, which bears would eat, but people keep feeding them and encouraging them into populated areas.

    4

  15. Normally they blame expanding human population and urban sprawl encroaching on the animals’ habitat. Now humans are to blame for reducing their population and abandoning the land to the animals You can’t win with these activists.

    Hopefully Japan will create a force. Call B force and build a Mechabear to deal with this threat.

    3

  18. 3rd Grader, the people have become enamoured of sika deer, “sacred messengers of the gods” in Shintoism, and they have been fed, and in recent years are running loose all over the place. People don’t hunt or eat them. The bears are following them into suburban and urban areas as they seek to fatten up for the winter.

    I’m so tired of stupid…

    2

  20. One must assume that the japs are dis-armed and unable to defend themselves – hence the call for military intervention.

    Re-arm the japs and teach them what a bear is, where to find it, and where to shoot it.

    Done and done.

  21. black bears are opportunistic they dang near anything we get them in the city alot in Seminole county they trapped a 700 pound bear that was rummaging trash cans . the Japanese bear is a type of black bear but is aggressive so is the Japanese wild boar. not enough hunters in Japan

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