Montana shows how Japan could solve its bear crisisーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS

Key Concepts

• Human-Bear Conflict: The increasing instances of negative interactions between humans and bears, leading to damage, injury, and fatalities.
• Wildlife Management: The practice of overseeing and controlling wildlife populations and their habitats, with a focus on balancing ecological needs with human interests.
• Bear Specialists: Trained professionals employed by government agencies to manage bear populations, prevent conflicts, and respond to incidents.
• Culling: The controlled killing of animals to manage population size or reduce conflict.
• Community Awareness/Human Management: Educating the public about bear behavior, safety measures, and responsible practices to minimize human-bear interactions.
• Habitat Overlap: The increasing proximity and intersection of bear habitats and human-inhabited areas.

International Workshop on Human-Bear Conflict in Montana

Overview of the Workshop

In October, a significant international workshop was held in Montana, USA, to address the growing global issue of human-bear conflict. Montana, recognized as a leader in wildlife management, hosted over 300 bear experts from 20 countries and regions. The six-day event focused on strategies for managing and preventing conflicts between humans and bears, particularly in light of increasing bear attacks worldwide.

Japan's Bear Crisis from an International Perspective

Onishi Masahiro, a wildlife management firm employee from Tokyo involved in bear and deer surveying and capture, represented Japan at the workshop. He highlighted Japan's current challenges, including a recent surge in fatal bear attacks. Participants expressed surprise at the high population density of brown bears in Hokkaido, Japan. While Hokkaido's brown bear population is estimated at approximately 12,000 within an area that is about a quarter of Montana's size, the sheer numbers and the frequency of incidents were considered "astronomical" by international experts.

A key point of discussion was the stark difference in how bear attacks are handled. In Japan, the primary responsibility for culling bears falls to civilian hunters who are compensated by municipalities, often on a per-animal basis. However, this system faces challenges due to a shortage of hunters and an aging demographic among those who are active.

Lessons from US Wildlife Management

Justine Valier, a bear specialist with the Montana state government, provided insights into the US approach. Unlike Japan, bear specialists in the US are public employees who are salaried and engage in a comprehensive range of activities, including damage prevention, capture, and emergency culling. They actively share their contact information online and receive direct sighting reports from citizens, enabling prompt responses. Valier emphasized that "bears are easy. They're the easy part. It's the people." This highlights the critical role of "human management" in conflict resolution, which constitutes approximately 90% of their work.

Examples of US Practices:

• Food Source Management: Valier recounted an incident where a grizzly bear overturned a can of used cooking oil at a restaurant. The bear's repeated return to this food source was addressed by discouraging such behavior early on.
• Preventative Measures: The use of electric fencing and mats, capable of delivering up to 9.7 kilovolts, is a key strategy to deter bears from accessing food sources and causing damage.
• Community Awareness and Education: Valier stressed the vital importance of raising community awareness. She cited an example of a new resident who experienced bear problems, including livestock attacks and bears peeking into his home. Upon investigation, Valier found the bears had accessed garbage. She advised the resident to secure kitchen waste and install electric fencing, which effectively resolved the issue.

Challenges in Japan's Wildlife Management System

Yona Asawa, reporting from Hokkaido, elaborated on Japan's situation from an international viewpoint. She noted that few countries experience such frequent and serious bear attacks, with Japan recording over 10 fatalities and more than 200 injuries in the current year alone. The high number of incidents, particularly in residential areas (urban or suburban zones), is attributed to the increasing overlap between bear habitats and human living spaces.

A significant takeaway from the workshop was the importance of professional expertise in wildlife management. In the US, state governments employ numerous specialists, and wildlife management is viewed as an attractive career path for students. In contrast, Japan faces a deficit in specialized knowledge within its wildlife departments. The Ministry of the Environment reports that only about 6% of local government wildlife staff possess specialized knowledge. Furthermore, students graduating with wildlife management degrees in Japan often struggle to find employment in the field, leading them to abandon it.

Key Arguments and Perspectives

• Human safety as the top priority: Onishi Masahiro stated, "Human tax and the public safety got to be the kind of first priority for the fast fast things to do." This underscores the immediate need to protect human lives.
• The effectiveness of professional, salaried specialists: The US model, with dedicated, salaried bear specialists who are readily accessible and proactive in prevention and response, was presented as a successful framework.
• The critical role of public education: The US approach emphasizes managing human behavior and educating the public as the most crucial element in reducing conflicts.
• The need for a paradigm shift in Japan: The current reliance on civilian hunters and the lack of specialized professionals in Japan are identified as significant systemic weaknesses that require a more proactive and professional approach to wildlife management.

Conclusion and Takeaways

The workshop in Montana highlighted the critical need for Japan to adopt a more professional and proactive approach to human-bear conflict management. Key takeaways include the importance of:

1. Establishing a dedicated corps of professional bear specialists for each region in Japan.
2. Shifting the focus from reactive culling to proactive prevention and community education.
3. Making wildlife management a more attractive and viable career path for students and professionals.
4. Implementing robust food source management and deterrent strategies in areas prone to bear encounters.

The international perspective clearly indicates that Japan's current situation is unusual and requires significant systemic changes to effectively manage its bear population and ensure public safety.