Bear opens window in factory escape, Japanese police say

A bear that hid after attacking four people at an electronics factory in northeastern Japan apparently evaded capture by opening a window alone and escaping into the night, authorities said.

According to city officials, the bear’s print indicates he released the window latch and pushed it open. Before Wednesday’s escape, the bear was seen using its front paws to open the tap to drink water.

“We believe he is extremely smart,” Fukushima Mayor Yuki Baba said, according to Kyodo news agency.

The bear entered a steel mill in Fukushima late Tuesday and attacked four people before heading to a nearby electronics plant where authorities hoped to capture him.

However, an attempt to immobilize him with a tranquilizer dart failed. According to Japanese media reports, food traps also proved to be ineffective, as the bear was able to eat fruit and honey bait without being caught.

Authorities said they tried to turn off the lights Wednesday night to lure the bear into the traps, but the bear escaped through a window that appeared to be unlatched.

Shooting measures were authorized, but the police refrained because there were flammable materials inside the factory.

Japan has been struggling with increasing bear attacks, with a record 13 people killed in such incidents between April 2025 and March this year.

Attacks have historically tended to increase in the fall, just before bears hibernate.

On Thursday, Fukushima authorities launched a drone search for the bear. Schools also switched to online classes for the day.

Regarding the bear’s escape, Mayor Baba said, “It’s not that we neglected our intervention efforts, but we are left with regret.”