An Asian black bear stunned an elderly couple in Japan by breaking into their home and raiding their fridge, highlighting a surge in bear intrusions across the country. The incident occurred on Monday night in Shizukuishi, Iwate prefecture, when Mitsuo Matsubara, 87, heard a noise in the kitchen and discovered the bear rummaging through the refrigerator.
Bear Burglar Escapes Unharmed
Matsubara's wife immediately called emergency services. Authorities confirmed that no one was injured during the encounter. The bear fled through a back door next to the kitchen after being discovered, but not before also rifling through a bin for food scraps, according to a police official cited by The Independent.
Rise in Bear Intrusions
This break-in is the fifth in the area since July 5. A bear, possibly the same one, made four separate visits to the home of a 70-year-old resident, stealing cat food and pickles, police said. Since April, at least five deaths have been recorded across Japan due to bear encounters, all in the Tohoku region. The previous year saw a record 13 fatal bear attacks nationwide, as reported by The Japan Times.
Why Bears Are Entering Towns
Bears have emerged from hibernation in recent weeks and are straying into urban areas in search of food. Scientists attribute the rise in bear break-ins to a growing bear population, fewer people living in rural areas, and changes in the availability of their natural food sources. In June, a bear evaded authorities for four days in Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo, forcing several schools to close in Tochigi prefecture. Earlier, a bear in Fukushima attacked four people and outsmarted numerous traps, unlatched a factory window, and turned on water taps with its paws.
