What should you not do if you encounter a bear? Points to note when climbing, trekking, and camping

Update date: 2023/11/17

Activity Japan Editorial Department

News about bear encounters nationwide is being reported on numerous times every day.

Bears are appearing in urban areas these days. . The possibility of anyone unexpectedly encountering a bear there is.
When you encounter a bear If you learn what not to do in advance, you can stay calm in case of an emergency. .

is a popular leisure activity Climbing & trekking , camp What to do if you encounter a bear inside We will also introduce them.

table of contents

1 What is a brown bear? Differences and habits from Asiatic black bears
2 Why bears appear in human settlements
3 What should you not do if you encounter a bear?
4 How to avoid being attacked by a bear while mountain climbing/trekking | What if you are attacked?
5 How to avoid encountering bears while camping?
6 Take precautions against bears and enjoy your leisure time!
7 Feature articles recommended by the editorial department

What is a brown bear? Differences and habits from Asiatic black bears

First Bears that live in Japan I will explain it to you, so let's take a look at it together.

Characteristics of brown bears

habitat	Hokkaido
body length	220cm～230cm
body weight	150kg～250kg

Characteristics of Asian black bears

habitat	Honshu & Shikoku
body length	110cm～150cm
body weight	80kg～120kg

Reference: Ministry of the Environment “Beware of bears! Avoid unexpected accidents”

in Japan, brown bear and Asian black bear is inhabited .

The brown bear Hokkaido inhabits approximately half of the area of . Its main habitat is forests, but it can also be found in wilderness areas with few trees. Sometimes they appear.

Asiatic black bears live in the mountains of Honshu and Shikoku. doing. The main habitat is deciduous broad-leaved forests.
Tohoku region and over 60% in the Chubu region. Kanto , Kinki , inhabits about 30% of the Chugoku region. Shikoku live only in limited areas .

Actually, the Asiatic black bear Tokyo But it has been seen . In 2023 (Reiwa 5), 127 sightings have been reported in Tokyo's Tama area, Hachioji City, Ome City, Akiruno City, Machida City, etc., and unexpected encounters are possible (November 10 (as of today) . Check the sighting information in your area and be careful.

By the way, previously Kyushu Asiatic black bears once lived in the area, but they have not been seen for about 50 years.

Brown bears are larger and heavier than Asiatic black bears. is.

Brown bear ecology

food	omnivore
Exercise capacity	expensive
Can you swim?	I can swim
per hour	up to 60km
Special skill	digging a hole
hibernation	December to March of the following year
personality	cautious and timid

Asiatic black bear ecology

food	omnivore
Exercise capacity	expensive
Can you swim?	I can swim
per hour	40-50km/h
Special skill	tree climbing
hibernation	November to April of the following year
personality	cautious and timid

Brown bears and Asiatic black bears are basically omnivores. . Both are characterized by high athletic ability. is.
By the way, The speed of a city cycle (mamachari) is 4 to 20km/h. In moderation. Even a city bike (mamachari) cannot match the speed of a bear, so you can't shake it off. .

Although the timing is slightly different, both brown bears and Asiatic black bears hibernation I will do
Before hibernating, they eat a lot of food to stock up, but if their staple food, such as acorns, is scarce, they may appear in human settlements. Be especially careful in the fall before hibernation is.

Both brown bears and Asiatic black bears are generally said to be cautious and timid.
However, there are large individual differences in personality, so don't let your guard down. . Also, Recently, the number of bears that are not afraid of people is increasing. .

Be careful of bears with cubs!

If you encounter a bear with her cubs, you need to be extra careful, as mother bears often act aggressively to protect their cubs. Even if the cub is alone, there is a high possibility that the mother bear is nearby, so please do not approach the bear and quickly leave the area.

Why bears appear in human settlements

Why bears appear in human settlements

There is a lack of food due to poor harvests of nuts, which are the staple food.
Abandoned farmland is increasing
With fewer hunters, the bear population is increasing.
The number of urban bears is increasing.
The distance between bears and human settlements is becoming blurred and getting closer.

There are several possible reasons why bears appear in human settlements.

The main reason is There is a shortage of food due to a poor harvest of nuts, the staple food. Doing things.
Also, The number of hunters is decreasing due to the aging of the population, and the number of bears is increasing. is also cited as a reason.

Similarly, due to aging etc. Abandoned farmland is increasing, and the line between bears and human settlements is blurring It has become.
Bears are good at learning It is characterized by Once they learn that ``humans are not scary'' and ``human food is delicious,'' they start appearing in urban areas. Urban bear (urban bear) will change to

What should you not do if you encounter a bear?

act suddenly
I panic
run with your back
make eye contact with the bear
act alone

The things you should not do when encountering a brown bear or a black bear are the same.
If you act suddenly or panic, the bear will be surprised and you will not know what action it will take, so it is dangerous. is.

When you encounter a bear Running with your back showing is also a no-no. . Bears instinctively tend to chase fleeing targets, so showing your back and running away may increase their aggression.

Making eye contact with a bear is also very dangerous as it can signal an attack. . Make sure to keep an eye on the bear and avoid eye contact.

As mentioned above, bears are generally timid and cautious, so they avoid people. Therefore, If you act in groups rather than alone, you will naturally be more likely to make noise and the probability of encountering a bear will be lower. .
Also, even if you do encounter one, you will be at a psychological and physical advantage compared to acting alone. It is rare for a bear to launch a full-scale attack on a group of four or more people. Another effective method is to hold hands and spread out to the sides to make it look bigger.

How to avoid being attacked by a bear while mountain climbing/trekking | What if you are attacked?

Illustration

While descending a mountain trail in Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture, he was attacked by an adult bear with a cub.

countermeasure

Collect bear sighting information in advance
avoid acting alone
Alert bears to the presence of humans using bear bells, radios, etc.
If you are nearby, stay calm and retreat slowly without turning your back.
If you are far away, do not shout and leave the area calmly.
If you are attacked by a bear, protect your face and head with your arms or backpack to prevent serious injury.

mountain climbing and trekking is a recently popular outdoor activity, How to avoid encountering bears Check local government sighting information such as Gather information in advance important to do is. If possible, avoid mountain climbing or trekking in areas where there have been reports of bear sightings.

Avoid traveling alone when mountain climbing or trekking. Action with 2 or more people of . If you are in a group, bears may notice people and avoid them. If you are traveling alone, even if you encounter a bear and are injured, you may not be able to contact it and rescue efforts may be delayed.

While climbing or trekking It is also effective to notify bears of your presence using a bear bell or radio. .

Also, in case If you encounter a bear " Just stay calm and act ” is important is.
You don't want to think about it, but if you are attacked by a bear, protect your face and head with your arms or backpack to prevent fatal injuries.

How to avoid encountering bears while camping?

Illustration

While sleeping soundly in a tent while camping solo in Kamikochi, Nagano, he was attacked by a bear and injured. The bear had eaten every last 3 days' worth of food, including retort curry, packaged rice, behavioral food, and the contents of a plastic bottle.

countermeasure

Collect bear sighting information in advance
Do not bring food with strong smells such as retort curry
Use provided food containers if available.
Don't store food in your tent
Seal food, garbage, cooking utensils, tableware, etc. in plastic bags and hang them on a tree.
Store food at least 100 meters away from tents, cooking areas, and eating areas.
Avoid cooking or eating inside the tent

In areas where there are bear sightings camp Let's stop doing that. Collect sighting information in advance it is very important to is.

Besides, Store food away from tents, kitchens, and eating areas (about 100m if possible). As an example, If you store food in your tent, you are more likely to be attacked by a bear looking for food. .