The picturesque town of Shizukuishi in Japan's north-east is facing an unusual threat: a "sweet-toothed" Asiatic black bear that has raided at least 14 homes and a confectionery shop over the past fortnight. The animal's brazen behaviour has left residents, including elderly couples, shaken, as it repeatedly targets fridges to satisfy its apparent cravings for cookies, sugar, and traditional Japanese sweets.
Mitsuo Matsubara, an 87-year-old resident of Shizukuishi, had a harrowing encounter with the bear on Monday evening. While investigating a noise in his kitchen, he discovered that it had opened his fridge and scattered food across the floor. His wife's prompt alert to the police was just one of several responses from authorities, who suspect a single, habitual offender is responsible for the break-ins.
The bear's predilection for sweet treats has been well-documented, with one house being targeted five times after it made off with cookies, sugar, and karinto – a traditional Japanese fried dough confection. On Sunday, it raided a Japanese confectionery shop, making off with doughnuts from the fridge. Another resident recounted his ordeal when he returned home to find the bear inside his house, mere metres away from where his elderly father was sleeping.
The bear's activities extend beyond residential properties; a local farm has reported four break-ins over the past couple of weeks, with the animal attempting to open a farmhouse door at night. Footage captured on camera shows the bear trying to access milk-based cattle feed, prompting the farmer to spread an anti-bear mixture containing Japanese mustard around entranceways in an attempt to deter it.
Shiho Chida, a bear specialist from Iwate prefecture's nature division, where Shizukuishi is located, commented on the unusual nature of the situation. "It's rare for a bear to break into the same place multiple times," she stated. "We believe this could be the same animal, so we're working towards capturing it as soon as possible." In response, officials have set up box traps, installed electric fences around frequently targeted houses, and deployed patrols to warn residents about the ongoing threat.
The recent surge in bear activity in Shizukuishi coincides with a broader trend in Japan, where record numbers of bear attacks and fatalities have been reported in recent years. Experts suggest that declining rural populations may be contributing to this trend, as bears become less intimidated by venturing into towns and lose their inherent fear of humans.