We've tried to warn you.
And now the US Embassy in Japan has joined us in letting you know: If you go to Japan, watch out for bears!
From NBC News:
Beware the bears: that's the grizzly warning from the U.S. Embassy to Americans living in Japan, after a record spate of attacks in recent months.
'Bear sightings and attacks have increased in parts of Japan, especially in municipalities close to or adjacent to populated zones,' the wildlife alert said, adding that Americans should 'be aware of your surroundings.'
This comes after Japan has unleashed a (non-lethal) military force to counter the bear attacks after a baker's dozen Japanese have been killed this year alone.
NBC is also reporting that more than 100 attacks, resulting in the 13 deaths, have happened this year.
The embassy noted the closure of Maruyama Park in the northern city of Sapporo, which is adjacent to the U.S. Consulate General, and was shuttered for two weeks on Tuesday after a brown bear was sighted there on a number of occasions.
The runway at the Iwate Hanamaki Airport in the northeastern Japanese city of Hanamaki was also temporarily closed down after bear was spotted there, the airport said on X.
Experts are blaming Japan's dwindling human population for the rise in ursine population. As Japanese move out of rural areas and into cities, the bears are moving into the vacated rural parts of Japan and setting up shop.
Japan is home to two main types of bears, including the Asiatic black bear and the Hokkaido brown bear.
It is uncommon for the U.S. to issue wildlife alerts in a foreign country. Japan currently has a Level 1 travel advisory, the least serious on a four point scale, indicating that travelers should 'exercise normal precautions.'
Whoever wrote this warning is probably not familiar with what I would call "normal precautions" when it comes to bears.
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