A hiker in Japan was found dead on Friday after a brown bear reportedly attacked and dragged him into the bushes. The man, believed to be in his 20s, was walking ahead of his friend along a Mount Rausu trail in Hokkaido, Japan, on Thursday when he was attacked by a brown bear, according to local outlet The Asahi Shimbun, which cited police sources. The friend, who rushed to the scene and witnessed the attack, noted that the victim was trying to fight off the bear before it dragged him into the bushes. The friend, unharmed, then called police to report the incident.
Following the attack, all three trails leading to Mount Rausu were closed, and hikers already on the mountain sought shelter at the Okhotsk Observatory. By the end of the day on Thursday, more than 7,100 people were airlifted out of the area by helicopter. That evening, officials issued a brown bear warning near the trails on Mount Rausu. The incident comes after a series of bear attacks in the region, which prompted authorities to host bear drills.
On Friday morning, police launched a search and found several items, including a blood-stained shirt, wallet, hat, and watch, lying dozens of meters from the trail. Bloodstains were also spotted on nearby trees and on the ground. Hunters looking for the missing man shot and killed three brown bears near where his body was discovered. Sightings of brown bears in the area have become more frequent, with recent attacks drawing increased attention from authorities.
Earlier this year, a bear attacked a man in his 70s near an elementary school in Nasushiobara City, according to Japan’s public media organization NHK. The recent string of attacks has led to heightened awareness and safety measures, including the conduct of bear drills by police officials. However, Hokkaido Prefectural Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident.