More than 90% of Hokkaido municipalities surveyed have concerns about emergency hunting of brown bears with guns, saying they will consider implementing it. [Hokkaido Shimbun Digital]

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

We would like to introduce an article (dated October 17th) published on the Hokkaido Shimbun Digital website operated by the Hokkaido Shimbun Press (Sapporo City), which states, "More than 90% are 'concerned' about emergency shooting of brown bears; 40% of municipalities across Hokkaido survey say they would 'consider implementing it'."

The article states, "24 municipalities (13.7%), including Yubari City and Rusutsu Village in the Shiribeshi region, responded that they would "respond only by capturing the police in accordance with the Police Duties Act." At least 30 municipalities, including Kushiro City and Kimobetsu Town in the Shiribeshi region, cited the lack of a "system in place" to create a manual setting out the steps leading up to firing a gun or to secure personnel.Hokuryu Town, Sorachi DistrictThe article states that 10 local governments, including Setana Town in the Hiyama district, cited "difficulty in making decisions" due to the lack of knowledge and experience of their staff.

◇