Bear that prompted school closures in Japan captured

A bear that had caused widespread panic and forced the closure of nearly 100 schools in Utsunomiya, Japan, was captured on Tuesday. The errant animal was found hiding in the bushes near a residential area, close to a train station, ending a multi-day search that had disrupted daily life for the city's half a million residents.

Municipal employees and hunters surrounded the property where the bear was located. A veterinarian then administered a tranquilizer dart, successfully neutralizing the animal around 3:45 p.m. local time. The bear had been sighted since Saturday, with numerous calls reporting its presence near a park, a library, and a school. Authorities utilized drones and helicopters in their efforts to track the mammal after it was spotted on a university campus, a shopping center, and a wholesale market.

The capture comes amid escalating concerns about bear attacks across Japan. This year alone has seen four recorded deaths from bear-related incidents, alongside multiple sightings and encounters. Last week, a bear attacked four people in Fukushima prefecture, causing moderate injuries. In 2025, Japan recorded a historic high of 13 deaths and 238 injuries from bear encounters, with over 50,000 sightings reported nationwide. The government estimates the bear population to be around 500,800 nationwide.

In response to the rising threat, Japan's government has implemented measures to combat bear attacks. Following a surge in fatalities starting in April 2025, the governor of Akita prefecture requested military assistance. The government also eased regulations that previously prohibited killing bears, aiming to curb the increasing human death toll. These efforts reflect a determined national strategy to address the growing problem of human-bear conflict.