Bear Gets up After Being Shot, Attacks Hunter Who Shot It in Hokkaido

The Yomiuri Shimbun

15:40 JST, April 27, 2026

HAKODATE, Hokkaido — A man was attacked by a bear on a mountain in Shimamaki, Hokkaido, on Sunday.

A call was made to emergency responders at about 5:05 p.m. to report the attack.

According to an announcement by the Hokkaido Prefectural Police, the 69-year-old man suffered serious injuries to his face and head and was taken to a medical institution.

He is reportedly in a stable condition.

The incident, which took place in the town’s Tomari district, is the prefecture’s first case of a bear attack against a person this year, the police said.

The man, a hunter who is part of a hunting club, was patrolling the outskirts of the town as part of a 5-member group, the announcement said. The group was carrying out “spring management” work aimed at reducing the number of bears.

At least one shot was fired and hit the bear, sending it falling down a hill. However, the animal reportedly got back up and attacked.