Overview

The Japanese black bears residing in Wakayama Prefecture belong to the Kii Peninsula regional population group, which is isolated from other regions and considered to have a small overall number of individuals throughout the Kii Peninsula.
Therefore, since 1994 (Heisei 6) hunting has been prohibited, and in the “Red List 2020” by the Ministry of the Environment they are listed as a regional population group at risk of extinction. Additionally, in the “Wakayama Prefecture Red Data Book (2022 revised edition)” they are categorized as Vulnerable (Category II).

Distribution of bears in the Kii Peninsula (Approximate Range)

If you sight a bear, or find tracks or other signs of a bear within Wakayama Prefecture, please send the following information to the office of the municipality nearest to you:
1. Location
2. Date and time
3. Size
4. The direction it moved
5. What the bear was doing

We ask for everyone’s cooperation.

Precautions to Protect Yourself from Bears

Early summer is the bear’s breeding season. Around this time, cubs begin to separate from their mothers, and bears may become more active.

In autumn, bears prepare for hibernation and actively search for food such as acorns.
When entering the mountains for hiking, or for gathering mountain vegetables or mushrooms, please keep the following precautions in mind to protect yourself from bears.

To Avoid Encountering Bears in the Mountains

• When entering a forest where bears may live, make sure to let bears know your presence. Bears are cautious by nature and usually avoid humans.
  Use a bear bell or a portable radio to make noise when entering forests.
• If you find bear droppings, footprints, or other signs, do not proceed further; retreat or take other avoidance measures.
• When gathering mountain vegetables or mushrooms, you may become so focused on collecting that you fail to notice your surroundings. Occasionally look around, and avoid entering dense bamboo thickets or areas with poor visibility. Also, act in pairs or groups whenever possible.
• Be particularly careful in bad weather or at dusk when visibility is low. Near rivers or streams, the sound of flowing water may prevent you from noticing an approaching bear.

To Avoid Attracting Bears

When fishing or camping, please take care where you place food, and be sure to take all garbage home with you. Leaving items that may serve as food for bears can attract them and pose a danger. Once a bear recognizes food as its own, it becomes possessive and may behave aggressively if approached.

If You Encounter a Bear

• If you see a bear, leave the area quietly. Do not panic or run away. Instead, stay calm, face the bear, and slowly back away without turning your back, while keeping the bear in sight. Sudden movements or loud noises may provoke the bear and increase the risk of an attack.
  Movements that startle the bear are more dangerous.
• Be especially cautious if you encounter a mother bear with cubs. If you see a cub, leave the area immediately and quietly, as the mother bear is always nearby. Mother bears are highly protective of their young and can be very dangerous.

To Prevent Bear Appearances Near Human Dwellings

• Properly manage kitchen waste and unwanted agricultural products to ensure they are not left outdoors.
  Do not leave any items that could attract bears, such as food waste, near houses.
  Harvest fruits such as persimmons and chestnuts in your yard, and do not leave them uncollected.
• Fruit orchards and beekeeping sites should be equipped with protective facilities such as electric fences.
• If there are bushes or tall grass around a house where bears could hide, mow them and improve visibility.