北信地域振興局

Be Prepared not to Encounter with Bears

Many bears live in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture. Bears are often found in the forest, so you can encounter them anywhere. When entering the forest, prioritize avoiding bear encounters. Be prepared and cautious and obey the following points:

• Carry a bear bell, radio or whistle
  Bears have a better sense of hearing and smell than humans. To alert bears of your presence, make noise by using items like a bear bell, radio, or whistle while moving.
• Avoid activities in the morning and evening
  Bears become more active especially at dawn and in the evening. Try to avoid activities during these time periods.
• Don’t get close to places where bears live
  If you find a footprint or feces of bears, turn back without hesitation.

　　　　　　
 　　The size of the footprints is about 15 cm,　　　　　             
　  which is bigger compared to other animals.

　　　　　　 
　　　  The thickness of the feces is about 2 cm.
　　　

Beware of bear encounter in villages during summer and autumn! 

In summer and autumn, when food is scarce in the forest and bears are fattening up for hibernation, they are more likely to be seen near villages in search of food (peaches and corns in summer, persimmons and chestnuts in autumn).
Especially in bushes and the fields near mountains, carry a bear bell and avoid activities in the morning and evening.

If you encounter with a bear

Bears often chase after things that run away. If you come across a bear, stay calm and slowly back away without running to avoid provoking it.

Nagano Prefecture Hokushin Regional Development Bureau Forestry Division

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