Japan’s Defense Ministry is responding to a surge of bear attacks by sending its military to areas where such incidents are occurring regularly.
Troops were deployed to the northern prefecture of Akita Wednesday to keep bears away from the 880,000 person population that has been victimized by more than 50 attacks since May, according to CBS News. Four of those maulings were fatal.
“Every day, bears intrude into residential areas in the region and their impact is expanding,” Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Fumitoshi Sato told reporters.
He called the military response “urgent.”
Soldiers will reportedly set traps, work with local hunters and aid in the disposal of dead bears, but will not use guns.
More than 100 people have been injured and at least 12 killed in bear attacks across Japan in the past six months, according to Japan’s Environment Ministry.
Bears are attracted to abandoned neighborhoods and rural areas with elderly and declining populations, where food from farmland and chestnut trees are found. CBS News reported that experts believe that may be leading to return visits from unwanted animals.
Victims of recent bear attacks include a 79-year-old woman who appeared to have been killed while mushroom picking, according to Japan Today. Her body was found in a forested mountain area in Akita.
News agency Nippon.com reports that the the brown bear and the Asian black bear are the two bear species indigenous to Japan. The former is similar to North American grizzlies.
Japan’s government established a taskforce last week to create an official bear response to take place soon.
