To enable coexistence with them, visitors are asked to observe the guidelines given below.
Bears don't want to see us either!
Alert them to your presence
- Use bells and whistles. --
Exercise caution during dusk
and twilight hours.>
- This is when bears are at their most active. -
Normally, bears avoid encountering humans by sensing
our presence from a distance and fleeing.
Try to alert bears to your presence as early as possible.
Grazing bears may be too absorbed to notice people approaching.
When there are obviously no bears nearby, such as in open fields or in
crowded areas, avoid using bells and radios so as not to bother other visitors.
Bears are active at dusk and twilight.
In Oze, bears are often spotted between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 4
p.m. and 7 p.m.
In fog, by rivers, at the foot of mountains
- Bears may be distracted. -
Places where bears might be encountered
Bears may be too distracted by the sounds of a river or
by other things to notice people approaching
In forests::
Eating shoots on beech trees (early spring)
Eating fruits on beech and Mizunara trees (autumn)
At the foot of mountains:
Eating the fruits of skunk cabbages in mountain-base marshes.
In places where bamboo grows:
Eating bamboo shoots (June to July)
Near rivers:
Ozegahara has a river section along which forests grow. Bears have been
spotted crossing a nearby boardwalk.
On encountering a bear
(the bear will be surprised, too -- don't panic so as to avoid aggravating
the situation.)
Do not panic.
- Remain calm above all. -
Remain calm.
- Do not arouse the bear. -
If the bear is distant, leave the location without
rushing.
If it is close, slowly retreat backward while keeping
an eye on the animal.
Avoid speaking loudly.
Refrain from taking photographs (flashes in particular
can arouse bears).
Do not run.
- The bear will chase you. -
Be careful with cubs. - Mother bears will risk their lives to protect cubs. -
Bears have a habit of chasing fleeing animals.
They can run much faster than humans.
If you see cubs, the mother bear will be nearby even if she is not visible.
The mother bear may attack to protect her cubs.
Leave the location immediately.
Bears are endangered animals.
Oze is a precious area suitable as a habitat for
Asiatic black bears. If incidents occur, bears may be captured and killed as
dangerous animals. Be careful not to cause bear-related incidents due to
carelessness.
Take care of food and leftovers.
It is dangerous to run in the mountains.
Take home all garbage including lunch leftovers.
Minimize the possibility of bumping into bears. They
may preemptively attack if they feel threatened.
Do not approach.
Do not bring pets
Fresh droppings and footprints are signs that bears
are nearby. Leave the location immediately.
Their calls and smells can arouse bears.
Observe the following rules:
Do not approach cubs!
They may be cute, but the mother bear will be nearby, creating
a dangerous situation.
Do not discard or leave food.
Refraining from feeding wildlife is an obvious rule,
but discarding or leaving leftovers of rice, soup, etc. is also tantamount to
feeding. After lunch or a rest, check the spot thoroughly and take home any
leftovers.
Please report any bear sightings to the Oze Preservation Foundation. This
information is valuable to us.
