Woman attacked by bear in Karuizawa

Friday 07th November, 09:52 AM JST

NAGANO —

A woman who came to see the autumn foliage in Kumobaike, a popular tourist spot in Karuizawa, Nagano prefecture, was attacked by a bear and injured around 1.30 p.m. on Thursday, police said.
The 60-year-old Gunma resident was in a group of three and walking at the back when the bear came out from bushes to the side of the path and attacked her, scratching her and leaving her back slightly injured. An eye-witness said the bear was about 1 meter tall, and saw the bear jump into the pond and swim away after the attack.

Police and members of a local hunting club were unsuccessful in their search for the bear. Police and Karuizawa officials have issued a warning to residents and tourists.

Wire reports

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Latest 15 of 23 Total Comments Show All

techall at 12:10 PM JST - 7th November

Cleo:

Do you how to tell if the bears in the area are dangerous? You check out the feces. Fecal matter from bears that aren't dangerous contains leaf and berry resedue, fecal matter from dangerous bears contain bells and gnawed sticks.
TokyoGas at 01:19 PM JST - 7th November

An eye-witness said the bear was about 1 meter tall, and saw the bear jump into the pond and swim away after the attack.

Sounds like a juvenile bear as just 1 meter tall.
Himajin at 02:17 PM JST - 7th November

fecal matter from dangerous bears contain bells and gnawed sticks.

LOL!!! Too funny!
Himajin at 02:18 PM JST - 7th November

I know what you're saying Cleo, but techall's post was just too funny!
timorborder at 03:29 PM JST - 7th November

The idea of ravenous bears is unnerving. The idea of old fxrts with weapons is scary. The bear was just being a bear. Having a lot of old men (and hunters in this country are generally older than god) run around with weapons is really scary.
cleo at 03:30 PM JST - 7th November

Hima -

Yes, it was funny. Couldn't think of a good retort. Dang.

Score one to techall!
nandakandamanda at 03:39 PM JST - 7th November

Is that 1 meter tall when walking on all fours? That could be a pretty large bear.
Nessie at 04:00 PM JST - 7th November

Sounds like a juvenile bear as just 1 meter tall.

Or a tanuki.
nisegaijin at 04:13 PM JST - 7th November

Nice job bear!
ptolemy at 04:36 PM JST - 7th November

Bears in forests, isn't that where they belong? Why blame a bear for being where they should be? Perhaps he was looking for hunters or others encroaching on its territory without permission, you know trespassing.
Deepinside at 04:46 PM JST - 7th November

no traspassing,private property,,beware with the bear..all those signs where already there..
nidu at 09:54 PM JST - 7th November

scratching her back

Itching--> I bet she requested the bear to do that.
airrunwesker at 10:23 PM JST - 7th November

I bet the bear was just being playful.

It the bear had been serious... this article would have been much much shorter!
elbudamexicano at 10:32 PM JST - 7th November

I lov Karuizawa in the summer! I feel sorry for this old lady getting attacked by a bear. My family and I just went to this part of Nagano this summer and it is absolutely beautiful! Bears? Not too sure what to do but bring your bells and a good long walking stick.
taintus at 12:04 PM JST - 10th November

Part of the blame is with the national forestry agency (rinyachou) that continues to use outdated forestry techniques based on maximizing timber production in a country that imports almost all of its wood. Landscape conversion from mixed to plantation forests is creating a decline in suitable habitat for bear and other wild animals.

In Otaki, the village where I live, monkeys and bears are increasingly becoming nuisances that are almost unmanageable.

With all do respect, timorborder's comment that old men with guns are more frightening than bears is woefully naive. The Japanese government needs to start thinking about effective forest management policies that involve rural communities. Instead the forestry agency just keeps mindlessly planting pine trees.

Read more at my blog: In the Pines www.otakimura.blogspot.com.