In the north-eastern Japanese town of Shizukuishi, authorities are searching for a bear suspected of being a repeat offender after 14 break-ins were reported within the community over the last two weeks. Officials have deployed patrols, installed electric fences at frequently targeted homes, and set up box traps in an attempt to capture the animal.
The most recent incident occurred on Monday evening when 87-year-old Mitsuo Matsubara discovered a large Asiatic black bear in his kitchen after hearing a noise. Upon entering the room, he found the refrigerator door open and food scattered across the floor. His wife contacted the police immediately following the encounter.
Shiho Chida, a bear specialist with the Iwate prefecture nature division, noted the unusual nature of the animal's behavior, stating that it is rare for a bear to break into the same locations repeatedly. Chida emphasized the urgency of capturing the animal due to the pattern of behavior observed across five different sites in the town.
The bear has shown a persistent interest in human food sources. One farm in the area has been targeted four times, with the animal consuming milk-based cattle feed. During one attempt to enter a farmhouse, the bear was captured on camera before retreating when the owner shouted and shone a light on it. To deter the animal, the farmer has begun applying a homemade mixture containing Japanese mustard near entrances.
Other incidents include a woman finding a bear searching through her kitchen, and a separate break-in at a confectionery shop where the animal stole doughnuts from a fridge. Another residence has been broken into five times, with the intruder consuming cookies, sugar, and karinto—a traditional Japanese fried dough snack. Experts suggest that shrinking rural populations have made bears less wary of humans, contributing to a recent record number of bear-related attacks and fatalities in Japan.
