Location
Description
On the morning of May 20, 2026, a male bear about 1.5 meters long that appeared in a riverbed in Chikuma City, Nagano Prefecture was captured with a tranquilizer gun and culled. On the same day, the body of an 85-year-old man was found with severe head and body injuries in a ravine in Nishiwaga Town, Iwate Prefecture; a bear was seen nearby and police consider a bear attack likely.
Note: Official sources provide information in Japanese only. This description has been machine translated for your convenience.
Summary
On the 20th, a roughly 1.5-meter male bear that appeared near a riverbed in Chikuma City, Nagano, was captured with a tranquilizer and culled, amid multiple local sightings and heightened caution. Also that day in Nishiwaga Town, Iwate, the badly injured body of an 85-year-old man was found and bears were seen nearby, prompting police to investigate a likely bear attack. Experts warn that the upcoming breeding season can make male bears more aggressive and increase encounters with people.
Bear Type
Black Bear
Number of Bears
4
Provider Type
News
Date & Time
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Address
Chikuma Kuiseke, Nagano
Coordinates
36.533886, 138.119971
Related Areas
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