Big bears live deep in the mountains, while the foothills are home to young animals. If the big bears come down to the foothills looking for food, this pushes the younger ones into what are usually buffer zones between bears and humans.

Kazuhiko Maita, director of the Institute for Asian Black Bear Research and Preservation, a nonprofit organization. A food shortage ahead of hibernation season is likely fueling a surge in bear sightings and some attacks on people in populated areas of Niigata Prefecture.

© Mainichi Shimbun