Overview

• At 3:20 a.m., a newspaper delivery driver in Kamisunagawa spotted one brown bear on a prefectural road and called 110 after honking, which sent the animal away.
• At 8:15 a.m., a resident in Utashinai’s Monju area saw one bear about 15 meters from a home and reported it to police.
• Police recorded both sightings in Hokkaido’s Sorachi region on Oct. 12, and no injuries were reported.
• The encounters occurred close to homes and roads, underscoring ongoing bear activity in populated areas.
• The reports align with a broader seasonal increase across Hokkaido that has led to heightened precautions in communities and schools.