Black bear triggers Tokyo-area lockdown and days-long pursuit before capture

The adult bear, estimated at about 100 kg, was finally hit with a tranquilizer dart, loaded into a caged truck, and driven off. Officials have not yet announced plans for the animal.

Black bear at Yellowstone Park, photographed May 22, 2026. (Illustrative)

(photo credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

ByREUTERS

JUNE 12, 2026 08:49

Utsunomiya officials captured a wild black bear on Tuesday following a tense, multi-day operation that drew national attention and forced schools to close while residents remained inside.

All 94 city primary and middle schools stayed shut for a second consecutive day after the first sighting on Saturday night. Classes were also canceled Wednesday because of a possible second bear, according to a local spokesperson.

Japan has seen a sharp rise in bear encounters, even in towns and cities, leading the government to form a special task force this year. The environment ministry recorded 238 injuries and 13 deaths in fiscal 2025, the highest total on file.

Utsunomiya, home to roughly 500,000 people in Tochigi Prefecture, lies about 100 km north of Tokyo within the greater metropolitan area.

When the bear reappeared in a residential zone Tuesday afternoon, police quickly cordoned off the streets. Officers carrying long poles and metal shields stood by for more than an hour while news helicopters broadcast the scene live.

City still weighing options for the captured bear

After being darted, the 100 kg adult was placed in a cage on a truck and removed. Authorities said they have not decided what to do with the animal next.

Farther northeast in Fukushima Prefecture, the city of Iwaki also closed three schools Tuesday after a black bear was seen nearby the previous day.

A separate incident last week in Fukushima city left at least four people hurt; video from one attack showed the bear chasing a man and knocking him down.

Asiatic black bears are considered vulnerable worldwide, yet their population in Japan has roughly tripled since 2012, helped by fewer hunters.

Specialists point to climate shifts that have cut natural food supplies such as acorns and beechnuts, combined with rural depopulation and abandoned fields that encourage bears to forage closer to people.