iStockphoto
Japan has found itself dealing with a growing crisis due to a rise in the number of people who’ve been attacked by bears in recent years. That has coincided with an increase in the number of incidents that have unfolded in heavily populated areas, which now includes one where multiple people were injured after one of the animals went on a rampage that involved two separate factories.
Three of the four major islands that comprise Japan boast a bear population that collectively exceeds more than 50,000 of those mammals. The northernmost, Hokkaido, is home to an estimated 12,000 black bears, while around 45,000 of the black variety reside across Honshu and Shikoku.
In 2025, the country set a dubious record of 13 confirmed fatalities resulting from bear attacks, which was the highest total since it started officially keeping tabs on those numbers in 2006.
That led to the military being deployed in an attempt to battle back, and a company that specializes in the manufacture of robotic “monster wolves” designed to scare them away has a months-long waiting list due to a spike in demand.
Experts say there are a few factors that have played a role in the concerning trend. Climate change has had an impact on food supply while driving bears into areas populated by humans in search of more food, including smaller villages that have seen their population drop and have subsequently become more attractive destinations for bears that may have otherwise been deterred from entering a more bustling one.
However, there have also been plenty of incidents in more heavily populated areas, which was the case with one that unfolded on Tuesday.
Four people were injured in Japan after a bear went on a miniature rampage in Fukushima City
Fukushima City is located in the northeast region of Honshu and is home to around 275,000 people who live in close proximity to the volcanic mountains where there are more than a few black bears to be found.
According to the Associated Press, first responders were dispatched to its Sasakino district on Tuesday morning after receiving a call concerning a bear that showed up on the grounds of Fukushima Steel Works, where two factory workers were injured by the animal before it moved on.
A third person was attacked after the bear showed up at another factory that specializes in the manufacture of electronic equipment, and an elderly woman who lives in the area was also targeted while it was wandering around. The three men attacked at their job were treated for what were described as “minor” injuries, while the woman suffered “moderate” ones that were thankfully not considered life-threatening.
The bear responsible has not been tracked down as of this writing, but ABC News reports it was believed to still be inside the second factory, which was seen “surrounded by uniformed police carrying long sticks.”