News Black Bear Hanamaki, Iwate, Iwate Feb 13, 2026, 05:00 AM

Description

On the 13th afternoon in a mountain area of Hanamaki, Iwate, hunter-association member and city nuisance wildlife control worker Kinya Sato (70) was attacked by a bear while dispersing it with fireworks, sustaining scratches to his face and head that are considered serious. The bear left after the attack but a few hundred meters away, in Kitakami city, a single adult bear was found and culled.

Note: Official sources provide information in Japanese only. This description has been machine translated for your convenience.

Summary

In a mountain area of Hanamaki, a 70-year-old hunter-association member who was dispersing bears with fireworks after sighting reports was attacked and injured in the face and head. He was airlifted by doctor helicopter and was conscious. The bear left the scene and an adult bear was later found and culled in nearby Kitakami.

Bear Type

Black Bear

Number of Bears

1

Provider Type

News

Date & Time

Friday, February 13, 2026 at 05:00 AM

Address

Coordinates

39.388625, 141.116900

Sources