A bear that had been confined inside a factory in Japan's Fukushima after injuring four people has escaped, apparently by opening a locked window, local authorities said.
The bear entered a room at an electronics factory operated by Oki Sympho-Tech in Fukushima around midday on 2 June. Authorities sealed access points with forklifts and barricades and installed a trap in an attempt to capture it. Officials believe the bear escaped on 3 June by releasing a window latch and pushing the window open. Before fleeing, it was also observed operating a faucet with its front paws.
According to Kyodo News, Fukushima mayor Yuki Baba said: 'We believe it to be extremely intelligent.' The mayor had earlier approved emergency shooting measures, but the presence of flammable materials inside the building meant rifles could not be used, according to Mainichi Shimbun. A tranquilliser dart was fired at the bear but appeared to have little effect.
City authorities baited the trap with honey and apples, but the bear managed to eat the food without triggering capture. Following advice from wildlife experts, officials switched off factory lights and reduced monitoring, hoping the bear would feel safe enough to enter the trap. Instead, the animal escaped through a window shortly after 10.40pm on Wednesday and fled the factory grounds.
The bear was first spotted at Fukushima Steel Works on the morning of 2 June, where it attacked two male employees. It later injured an elderly woman and a security guard at Oki Sympho-Tech. The security guard suffered serious injuries, including facial fractures. Authorities deployed drones on Thursday to search for the bear, while local schools moved classes online as a precaution.
Bear attacks have increased in recent years in Japan as expanding bear populations move into areas with shrinking and ageing human populations. In 2025, Japan recorded more than 230 bear attacks and a record 13 deaths, according to the Associated Press.
