Man loses finger in latest bear attack

Hopefully the bears don't pay the price for the unwise decisions of the humans.

All that is needed when collecting food in the mountains is a couple of flares or firecrackers.

" Bamboo shoots are a staple food for bears at this time of year. "

How would the Akitans feel if the bears came to town to steal their food?

Bears are well-known for being very territorial. Humans entering known bear habitats do so at their own risk. Effective self-defense is essential.

"STAY OUT OF MY FISHING HOLE!" the bear was quoted as saying as it ran away.

Can we have some education for these people, an airhorn or pepper spray can save lives here

It might help people if they had cheaper access to bear spray, it costs almost 20,000 yen over here.

It might help people if they had cheaper access to bear spray, it costs almost 20,000 yen over here.

Closer to 8000 yen on Rakuten.

Closer to 8000 yen on Rakuten.>

Really? Good work Nessie, I'll take a look. Still quite pricey though.

Bears 5 - 0 J oldies.

I think J government will have to take sides sooner rather than later and either ban people from bush walking in 'some' areas or capture / isolate the 'problematic' bears which is nonsense imo.

Otherwise we gonna have a bloodbath and am afraid J elders will finish second best.

.......the man had his little finger severed .......

In Japan it might be hard to convince someone that it was the result of a bear attack, people will be looking for his tattoos.

Can't blame the Bears.

And now forever more people will think this guy is an ex-yakuza

Bears live in the mountains, people live in cites and valleys. 1+1=2

who apparently died from such assaults

very odd...

How would the Akitans feel if the bears came to town to steal their food?

Nailed it, WilliB.

Is this really worthy of national coverage? Why is the village mentality so pervasive?

I am not impressed.

Come on. Who goes into the woods without a knife, a walking stick, a good shovel, some yummy snacks, and an attitude? Japanese senior citizens hell-bent on becoming bear food, that's who.

I don't know about you guys, but if I am digging for bamboo shoots, I am keeping my back to a solid place, or at least a tree, and I am looking around me often. If a bear challenges me, I stand up and throw the shovel at it and yell. Then I take out my knife and get my walking stick. Is it going to rush me? It better get ready to get poked and slashed. Is it running away? Good. Is it doing nothing? I get out some snacks and throw them far away from me and get ready to run.

Of course, if I were 72, I would have a bigger knife or two, a sharper stick, and greasy snacks unfit for human consumption. And if someone asks me why, I will just tell them I would like to keep my little finger. Because it ain't worth nothing if you don't have the attitude.

I have seen plenty of footage of people in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest get away (while holding a camera!) from bigger bears in hairier situations. And I know people who have done it. Why are Japanese oldsters bear fodder?

Having been eradicated from Kyushu perhaps the bears see the writing on the wall and will go down fighting.

Leave the bears territory (and their food) to the bears.

Loss of life is sad. But this country still has bear territory. Leave it to the bears. Never enter it alone, but better still, stay out of it and get your bamboo shoots elsewhere.