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Thursday, October 22, 2015

440 Kilogram Bear Shot in Hokkaido

The Japan Times recently reported that a 400 kg (880 pound) bear was shot dead last month in Monbetsu, Hokkaido.  The bear had been raiding corn fields in the area and the bear’s footprints had been found near houses in the city. A 71 year old man who belongs to the hunting club was quoted as saying he had never seen a bear this big, after being a hunter for more than 40 years.

This year Hokkaido authorities warned residents that bears might wander into towns and cities or fields in search of food due to a shortage of acorns and beech nuts.  Monbetsu is not near us, but, bears have been seen locally so parks and the forest are closed.

3 comments:

  1. I live in Northern Indiana USA and there have not been bears here for at least 150 years...until THIS year. A young Great Lakes Bear traveled down from Michigan and stuck around the whole summer. Now the DNR says he will probably hibernate here. They tell us to expect more in the coming years. So far this one as been a little distructive and they suspect he is staying in the area because he found a honey farm to raid. It's illegal to shoot him here. The DNR will try to find him, tranquilize him and cart him back up to Michigan where he came from.

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  2. That was a big animal and bears tend to roll on the ornery side. Interesting.

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