Asian black bears have been sighted multiple times across Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures, including a recording of a bear crossing a suspension bridge.

These sightings indicate a growing trend of bears becoming accustomed to human environments to find food, posing a potential risk to residents and tourists in these regions.

In the Hachimantai tourist area at Lake Hinohara, sensor cameras have captured bears on more than 50 occasions within a single week [2]. On May 24, 2026, at approximately 2:30 p.m., a camera recorded a bear crossing a suspension bridge [1]. A witness fishing from a boat said the animal appeared accustomed to crossing the bridge.

Other incidents have occurred in nearby urban and agricultural zones. On May 20, 2026, a bear was spotted at an agricultural experiment station in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture [1]. In Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, a bear measuring approximately one meter in length was captured in a box trap on May 22, 2026 [1]. Video footage showed the animal struggling after being caught.

Local hunting associations have installed box traps throughout the region to prevent damage and ensure public safety. The traps are designed to capture bears that venture too close to residential areas.

One person who filmed a bear encounter said they had seen the animals before but had never been so close. "Honestly, I was scared," the photographer said [1]. They added that while they thought they could handle a cub, seeing the animal in person made them realize they could not win a confrontation [1].

“"Honestly, I was scared."”

The frequency of these sightings, specifically the use of human infrastructure like suspension bridges and the presence of bears in agricultural stations, suggests a loss of fear regarding human activity. When bears adapt to tourist and residential zones for food, the likelihood of human-wildlife conflict increases, necessitating the aggressive trapping measures currently being deployed by local hunting associations.