Japan Evacuates 94 Schools After Dozens of Bears Wander Into Major Cities

The city of Utsunomiya, located about 100 kilometers north of Tokyo, found itself this week at the center of an unusual event: black bears were seen wandering through multiple parts of the city, including parks, residential neighborhoods, public institutions, and even areas near schools. Following the reports, authorities decided to take extraordinary measures and close all 94 municipal elementary and middle schools for several days.

The first report came in on Shabbat, when residents spotted a bear near a city park. Over the following days, dozens of additional reports were received about the bear’s appearance, along with smaller bears, in different parts of the city.

Security cameras captured the animals moving between residential streets, industrial zones, and public complexes. In response, residents were instructed to avoid unnecessary time outdoors, lock doors and windows, and avoid leaving food or garbage outside their homes.

Is the Forest Running Out of Food, or Has the Bear Population Grown Dramatically?

The biggest concern was the safety of children on their way to school, so authorities decided to suspend operations at all municipal educational institutions.

To locate the bears, authorities deployed drones, surveillance cameras, police teams, veterinarians, and professional hunters. After several days, the same large bear was found and tranquilized. The remaining bears have not yet been located.

Why Are Bears Coming Into Cities?

Experts in Japan point to several possible reasons for the phenomenon:

• Climate change affecting their natural food sources. 
• A decline in the amount of acorns and fruit in the forests.
• The depopulation of inhabited villages, making it easier for animals to approach communities.
• Growth in the bear population in recent years.

Despite the fear, this is not the first time black bears have crossed the line and come close to humans — in some cases, injuries and deaths have even been recorded. Only recently, a bear was reported to have injured four people in the city of Fukushima and managed to escape for many days.

According to government data, the number of people injured in bear incidents in Japan is on the rise, leading the government to establish special response teams to deal with the phenomenon.