Overview
- The National Police Agency added prevention of harm from dangerous wildlife to permitted duties, enabling rifle use for bear culling under rules revised on Nov. 6.
- Police will launch operations on Nov. 13 in Akita and Iwate using four-person teams drawn from firearms-response units in riot divisions who have received rifle training.
- This marks the first time police will cull bears, though officers have previously conducted dog culling under separate authorities.
- Local governments describe the move as easing their burden, while reports note concerns about limited police experience with bear shooting and the safety risks involved.
- Fukushima City logged 323 bear sightings from April to October, including 145 in October; after multiple sightings at Sahara Elementary, classes briefly went online, three bears were trapped and culled nearby, fencing gaps were closed, and in-person lessons resumed Nov. 4 as experts urged a combined strategy of targeted removal and physical buffers such as electric fences.