One year since the start of "emergency gun hunting" for bears, 81 cases have been carried out in 14 prefectures... Issues include safety and lack of know-how

September marked one year since the start of "emergency shooting," which allows municipalities to shoot bears and wild boars in urban and inhabited areas at their discretion. According to the Ministry of the Environment, emergency shooting for bears was conducted a total of 81 times across 14 Hokkaido and prefectures, mainly in the Tohoku and Hokuriku regions, by the end of August, showing its expanding use. However, challenges remain, such as cases where securing safety takes time and a lack of know-how among local governments with no prior capture experience.

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Emergency bear shooting was conducted for the first time in Sendai City in October 2025. Previously, discharging firearms at night or in densely populated residential areas was prohibited in principle, but local government officials have noted that "captures can now be carried out quickly as long as conditions are met." Nearly 70% of the cases were concentrated between October and December, when bears actively search for food prior to hibernation. By prefecture, Yamagata Prefecture had the highest number at 19 cases, followed by Niigata Prefecture with 14, and Iwate and Toyama Prefectures with 8 cases each.

The most critical requirement for execution is securing safety around the site. To prevent harm to residents, local governments and police must guide evacuations, enforce traffic restrictions, and ensure a "backstop"—such as an embankment—to absorb stray bullets.

In Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, a bear appeared in a residential area this April and moved around the vicinity of an elementary school. Securing safety took time, and emergency shooting was only carried out approximately 43 hours after the initial sighting. The absence of hunters capable of firing at night, which requires high technical skill, was also cited as a factor in the prolonged response.

In Fukushima City in June, a bear remained inside a factory for two days. Considering the potential risk of ignition, a tranquilizer gun was used, but it did not lead to a capture. A city official reflected, "Because it was our first case, it took a long time. We also keenly felt the shortage of manpower."

As local governments with more cases accumulate more know-how, a Ministry of the Environment official pointed out, "Differences in response capabilities are emerging among local governments." An official from Yamagata Prefecture stated, "Even within our prefecture, while some municipalities are deepening practical discussions on cooperation with the police, others are only just beginning to put systems in place."

For this reason, the ministry intends to focus on sharing knowledge by introducing early success stories at training workshops for local governments. It is also supporting the training of specialized personnel, such as "government hunters"—public officials responsible for bear capture and management.