A bear that attacked 4 people in north-eastern Japan has escaped from an electronics factory after apparently opening a window and fleeing during the night, authorities said.
Officials said evidence suggested the bear released the window latch and pushed it open before escaping. Before its getaway on Wednesday, the animal had also been seen using its front paws to turn on a tap and drink water.
“We believe it to be extremely intelligent,” Fukushima Mayor Yuki Baba told Kyodo News.
The bear entered a steel factory in the city of Fukushima late on Tuesday and injured 4 people before moving into a nearby electronics factory, where authorities hoped to capture it.
Attempts to tranquillise the animal were unsuccessful. Food traps also failed after the bear managed to eat fruit and honey bait without being caught, according to Japanese media reports.
Authorities switched off factory lights on Wednesday night in an effort to lure the bear into the traps. However, officials believe it escaped through a window after opening the latch itself.
Although permission had been granted to shoot the bear, police decided against it because flammable materials were stored inside the factory.
Japan has recorded a rise in bear attacks in recent years. Between April 2025 and March 2026, a record 13 people were killed in bear-related incidents.
Such attacks usually increase in autumn as bears prepare for hibernation.
On Thursday, authorities in Fukushima launched a drone search for the animal, while schools in the area moved classes online for the day.
“It’s not that we neglected our response efforts, but we are left with regret,” Mayor Baba said following the bear’s escape.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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