Bear Captured in Utsunomiya City After 3 Tranquilizer Darts; Another Bear in Fukushima Remains at Large
In Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, a bear that caused the city's elementary and junior high schools to close for two consecutive days was captured by authorities on the afternoon of June 9. The bear, approximately 1 meter long, was found in a residential area about 2 km south of JR Utsunomiya Station and was captured after being hit with three tranquilizer darts; no one was injured in the process. Meanwhile, another bear that injured four people in Fukushima City on June 2 has not yet been caught.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 9, 2026 at 17:40
- 🔍 Collected: June 9, 2026 at 18:00 (20 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 9, 2026 at 18:18 (18 min after Collected)
(Tokyo, 9th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) In Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, all municipal elementary and junior high schools were closed for two consecutive days due to a bear sighting. After several days of pursuit, Japanese authorities captured the bear this afternoon on private residential land. Meanwhile, the bear that injured four people in Fukushima Prefecture recently has not yet been "apprehended."
According to NHK, on the morning of the 6th of this month, there were successive reports of sightings of an animal suspected to be a bear, about 1 meter in length, in the urban area of Utsunomiya. The city government and hunters' association began a search after receiving the reports and discovered a bear lingering in the bushes on private residential land before 2 p.m. today.
The city government stated that after 2:30 p.m., a total of three anesthetic darts were fired, some of which appeared to hit the bear, and it was captured around 3:45 p.m. The location is a residential area about 2 kilometers south of JR Utsunomiya Station.
Since the recent bear sightings in the urban area of Utsunomiya, there have been no reports of injuries.
According to the local Tochigi newspaper Shimotsuke Shimbun, due to the bear sighting in the urban area, including near schools, the Utsunomiya City Board of Education decided to temporarily close all 94 municipal elementary and junior high schools today, following yesterday's closure. Some prefectural high schools also followed suit today.
Meanwhile, a week after four people were injured in a bear attack in Fukushima City on the 2nd of this month, the bear has not yet been found. Nearby elementary and junior high schools continue to remain on alert, with parents driving their children to and from school.
The bear that injured four people had previously stayed at an office, but police witnessed it leaving through the main gate on the 3rd and it has not been captured since. However, there have been successive reports of bear sightings in the vicinity.
According to Fukushima City Hall, within a radius of about 2 kilometers from the aforementioned office, there were successive sightings of a bear or a bear-like animal from the 4th to the 8th of this month. Among them, a report on the 6th of this month indicated that a bear was seen along a river near a primary school in the city, with all sightings occurring between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
According to NHK, on the morning of the 6th of this month, there were successive reports of sightings of an animal suspected to be a bear, about 1 meter in length, in the urban area of Utsunomiya. The city government and hunters' association began a search after receiving the reports and discovered a bear lingering in the bushes on private residential land before 2 p.m. today.
The city government stated that after 2:30 p.m., a total of three anesthetic darts were fired, some of which appeared to hit the bear, and it was captured around 3:45 p.m. The location is a residential area about 2 kilometers south of JR Utsunomiya Station.
Since the recent bear sightings in the urban area of Utsunomiya, there have been no reports of injuries.
According to the local Tochigi newspaper Shimotsuke Shimbun, due to the bear sighting in the urban area, including near schools, the Utsunomiya City Board of Education decided to temporarily close all 94 municipal elementary and junior high schools today, following yesterday's closure. Some prefectural high schools also followed suit today.
Meanwhile, a week after four people were injured in a bear attack in Fukushima City on the 2nd of this month, the bear has not yet been found. Nearby elementary and junior high schools continue to remain on alert, with parents driving their children to and from school.
The bear that injured four people had previously stayed at an office, but police witnessed it leaving through the main gate on the 3rd and it has not been captured since. However, there have been successive reports of bear sightings in the vicinity.
According to Fukushima City Hall, within a radius of about 2 kilometers from the aforementioned office, there were successive sightings of a bear or a bear-like animal from the 4th to the 8th of this month. Among them, a report on the 6th of this month indicated that a bear was seen along a river near a primary school in the city, with all sightings occurring between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
FAQ
宇都宮市出沒的熊是在何時何地被捕獲的？
該熊於6月9日下午3時45分左右，在位於JR宇都宮站以南約2公里的住宅區民宅用地內被捕獲。
捕捉熊的過程為何？
當局在發現熊的蹤跡後，總共發射了3發麻醉針，其中幾發命中，最終成功將其捕獲。
宇都宮的熊出沒事件是否造成人員受傷？
沒有，宇都宮市的熊出沒事件並未傳出有人受傷。
這次事件對宇都宮市的學校有何影響？
宇都宮市教育委員會決定全市共94間市立中小學連續兩天臨時停課，部分縣立高中也跟進停課。
福島市的熊攻擊事件後續發展如何？
於6月2日攻擊造成4人受傷的熊至今仍未被捕獲，事發一週後附近中小學仍持續警戒，由家長接送學童上下學。