A wild brown bear was captured with a tranquilizer gun on Friday after wandering into a residential neighborhood in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture [1], [4].

The incident highlights a growing trend of bears emerging from hibernation and entering urban areas in central and northern Japan to find food [5], [6].

The bear first appeared in a factory waterway before moving into a residential street around 8:30 a.m. [2], [3]. During its trek, the animal nearly collided head-on with a vehicle [1]. A male resident who encountered the animal said the event happened in an instant, noting that both he and the bear noticed each other before the animal turned and ran away [7].

Authorities eventually cornered the single bear in a tree within a nearby park [4]. Following its capture, reports surfaced of a separate incident in Iwate Prefecture on the same day [2]. In that region, a large bear was observed digging holes in a field and eating rice bran [1], [3].

These sightings are part of a broader pattern of wildlife encroachment. Reports from earlier this year indicated that bears were already roaming city areas in the Tohoku region as early as April [8]. The frequency of these encounters has prompted local authorities to increase capture efforts to protect public safety [6].

Local residents in Matsumoto expressed shock at the proximity of the animal. The resident who encountered the bear said he was surprised because he did not think there would be a bear right in front of him [7].

“The bear first appeared in a factory waterway before moving into a residential street around 8:30 a.m.”

The simultaneous sightings in Nagano and Iwate suggest a widespread movement of brown bears into human settlements following their hibernation period. When natural food sources are scarce or urban areas provide easy access to nutrients like rice bran, bears are more likely to venture into residential zones, increasing the risk of human-wildlife conflict.