Mino City Deploys Box Traps Amidst Rising Bear Sightings and Livestock Damage
Authorities in Gifu Prefecture have initiated a targeted response to a surge in bear activity, citing confirmed poultry attacks and the installation of capture mechanisms in coordination with licensed hunters.
Since the end of April 2026, Mino City in Gifu Prefecture has recorded a significant increase in bear sightings accompanied by confirmed damage to poultry. The situation has escalated sufficiently to prompt immediate administrative intervention, marking a seasonal intensification of human-wildlife interaction following the winter hibernation period.
In response to these reports, the city administration has activated a specific wildlife management protocol. This involves the deployment of box traps, a method designed to capture bears without causing immediate harm, allowing for subsequent relocation or management. These measures are being implemented in direct cooperation with the local hunting association, reflecting a collaborative approach between municipal authorities and licensed hunters to address the emerging threat.
The operational framework relies on the installation of these baited enclosures to intercept the animals within the designated area. This strategy aims to mitigate the ongoing conflict by removing the bears from residential zones where they have been observed and where livestock, specifically chickens, have suffered confirmed attacks. The involvement of the hunting association underscores the reliance on professional expertise for the execution of this capture operation.
Beyond the physical deployment of traps, the city has issued formal warnings to residents to exercise heightened caution in the affected zones. This advisory serves as a critical component of the broader governance response, aiming to reduce the risk of accidental encounters between the public and the active bear population while the capture mechanisms are operational.
The current reporting indicates that the incidents began at the end of the previous month, with the city citing these developments as the primary catalyst for the new measures. While the specific quantitative data regarding the number of bears sighted or the extent of the poultry damage remains unquantified in the available reports, the qualitative assessment of "multiple" sightings and confirmed damage has driven the policy response.
As of the latest update, the success rate of the newly installed box traps remains unknown, with no confirmation provided on whether any bears have been successfully captured or relocated. The administration continues to monitor the situation, relying on the initial cooperation with the hunting association to manage the wildlife population in this region of Gifu Prefecture.
