Japan Authorizes Police to Use Firearms Against Bears Amid Rising Attacks
In a significant policy shift, Japanese authorities have granted police the authority to use firearms against bears in response to a surge in attacks that have left 13 people dead since April, marking an unprecedented increase in fatalities.
The new regulation took effect on Thursday, November 13, 2025.
Authorities have reported nearly daily incidents of bears entering residential areas, including homes, schools, and shopping districts, prompting widespread alarm among residents.
Local officials informed AFP that the legal amendment allowing police to shoot bears was enacted today, citing the ineffectiveness of traditional firearms in deterring these large animals.
The bear situation has escalated into a national crisis, leading the U.S. embassy in Tokyo to issue a warning about "wildlife hazards," advising American citizens to avoid solitary excursions in areas where bears have been sighted. Similar advisories were issued by British authorities for their nationals in Japan.
In certain northern regions, the situation has deteriorated to the point that Japanese military units have been deployed to safeguard towns and villages, with several rural prefectures calling for immediate military assistance to address the crisis.
Wildlife experts attribute the rise in bear encounters to a significant increase in bear populations, fueled by abundant food sources in forests, alongside a declining human population in mountainous villages that has eroded traditional barriers between wildlife and residential areas.
The Japanese government aims to mitigate the growing threat to public safety while continuing to explore long-term environmental strategies that balance human safety with wildlife conservation efforts.
