Utsunomiya captures wandering bear after four days of citywide sightings

A wild Asiatic black bear was tranquillised and captured in the Japanese city of Utsunomiya on Tuesday after several days of sightings across residential neighbourhoods, prompting widespread public safety measures and the closure of schools.

Local authorities said the bear was located shortly before 2 pm hiding in bushes on residential property in a densely populated district approximately two kilometres south of Utsunomiya Station, the city's main railway hub.

Officials and members of a local hunters' association had been searching for the animal since reports of bear sightings began on Saturday morning. The bear, estimated to be around one metre in length, was believed to be a fully grown adult.

According to municipal authorities, three tranquilliser darts were fired at approximately 2:30 p.m., with at least one striking the animal. The bear was successfully captured at around 3:45 p.m. No injuries were reported during the operation.

Authorities believe the captured bear is the same animal that had been repeatedly sighted across the city over the previous four days.

Sightings across central Utsunomiya

The first reports were received on Saturday morning when residents reported seeing what appeared to be a bear near a wooded area and park in the Nagaoka-cho district. Around 12 hours later, another sighting was reported in a nearby residential area.

Additional reports followed through the weekend and into Monday, with the animal reportedly appearing near the Tochigi Prefectural Government offices, residential streets and several schools in central Utsunomiya.

By Sunday afternoon, a bear was reportedly observed on the grounds of Sugatagawa Junior High School in the Nishikawata-machi district. Officials later said the animal had disappeared from the school grounds and was believed to have moved into nearby residential areas.

On Monday evening, a bear was seen near a junior high school in the Yonan district, approximately three kilometres from Utsunomiya Station. Search teams tracked the animal into a wooded area near the school.

Authorities planned to use a drone equipped with an infrared camera to locate the bear more precisely before attempting capture. However, the operation was cancelled after officials determined that the area fell within a no-fly zone.

During the night and early hours of Tuesday, further sightings were reported across the city. Residents reported seeing a bear near commercial premises, residential neighbourhoods and around the campus of Utsunomiya University.

Police received a report shortly after 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday from a passer-by who claimed to have seen a bear on the university's Mine Campus. Officers dispatched to the scene confirmed the animal's presence but subsequently lost sight of it.

Authorities later received reports of sightings in nearby residential areas, including one location approximately one kilometre southwest of the university.

Schools closed as precaution

The continuing sightings prompted local authorities to implement extensive precautionary measures.

The Utsunomiya Board of Education ordered all municipal elementary and junior high schools to close on Monday. The closures remained in effect on Tuesday, affecting all 94 city-run schools.

Several prefectural schools were also closed as authorities continued efforts to locate the animal.

Police officers, firefighters, municipal officials, prefectural authorities and local hunting association members participated in the search operation.

Residents were advised to remain vigilant, keep doors and windows locked, avoid leaving rubbish outside overnight and seek shelter inside nearby buildings if they encountered a bear.

Some convenience stores and parcel delivery facilities reportedly switched their automatic entrance doors to manual operation to reduce the possibility of the animal entering buildings.

Following Tuesday's capture, city officials said no further bear sightings had been reported.

Growing concerns over bear encounters

The incident in Utsunomiya occurred amid a broader increase in encounters between bears and humans across Japan.

Authorities have reported a growing number of cases involving bears entering populated areas, including schools, residential districts and commercial facilities.

Earlier this month, four people were injured in Fukushima City, approximately 170 kilometres northeast of Utsunomiya, after a wild bear attacked workers and residents in the Sasakino district.

Police said the attacks began shortly after 6:30 a.m. when a bear entered company premises and injured two employees. Two additional people were subsequently attacked at another office and in a nearby residential area.

The four victims, ranging in age from their twenties to their eighties, were taken to hospital. All were reported to be conscious.

The bear involved in the Fukushima attacks had not been captured as of Tuesday, and police continued to warn residents to avoid affected areas.

Japanese authorities have expressed increasing concern over bear-related incidents nationwide. Government data show that casualties linked to bear attacks reached record levels during the 2025 fiscal year.

The Environment Ministry recorded 238 victims, including 13 fatalities, during the period. Authorities have established a national task force aimed at reducing casualties and improving responses to bear encounters.

Wildlife experts and government agencies have pointed to several factors contributing to the increase in bear sightings near populated areas, including changes in natural food availability, declining rural populations, abandoned farmland and reduced hunting activity.

The Asiatic black bear is classified as a vulnerable species globally. However, Japanese authorities estimate that the country's bear population has increased significantly over the past decade, resulting in more frequent encounters between bears and humans.

No injuries or property damage were reported during the series of sightings in Utsunomiya, and officials said the situation appeared to have been resolved following the bear's capture on Tuesday afternoon.