著者

門崎 允昭 河原 淳

出版者

森林野生動物研究会

雑誌

森林野生動物研究会誌 (ISSN:09168265)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.18, pp.50-66, 1991 (Released:2017-10-03)

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The authors investigated 43 accidents resulting in injury or death due to attack by wild brown bears Ursus arctos, occurring in Hokkaido Japan in the 22 years from 1970 through 1991. Characteristics of bear attacks on humans and countermeasures to prevent injury are presented. Causes for attacking humans: Causes of bear attacks on humans can be divided into three main areas. (1) Attacks with an intention to eat humans: These occur when bears develop a longing to hunt, kill and eat prey, especially after a long time on a vegetable diet. (2) Attacks to drive away humans: These occur in the following cases. When bears desire to eat foods which human bring, farm products or livestock under human's care, or in protecting their territory or food. Attacks on hunters, i.e. bear's counterattack against hunter's attack on bears. This occurs (i) When hunters miss bears from close range. (ii) When a hunter chases a wounded bear, bears very often attack suddenly from a hidden vantage point. (iii) When a hunter shoots a baby bear before the dam, she will angrily attack the hunter. When humans encounter bears suddenly, bears attack humans without warning. In particular, a mother bear will attack humans for approaching. (3) Attacks for sport or excitement: Some young bears, especially those around two years old attack humans for sport or excitement. In some incidents the causes overlap, or in the middle of an attack the cause may shift to another motive. Type of bears involved in attacks: Bears attacking hunters are characterized as being over two years old and either sex, whereas attacks on people other than hunters are in most cases perpetrated by dams accompained by young, or bears of ages two to four years regardless of sex. Body part attacked: Bear attacks on hunters are usually directed at the head, then on the legs, body and neck in order of frequency. People other than hunters are usually attacked on the legs, head and neck, and body. Manner of attack: In late hibernation and directly after, bears attack humans largely using the teeth on all fours. At times other than the hibernation period, bears usually attack people by standing erect and using the claws. Bears with a history of attacking people will use the same method as used in previous attacks. Man-eating bears: Sometimes, bears will eat a man at the scene of the killing. In most cases after killing a man, the bear will drag the body to a safe place and strip the man naked or cover the dead body with soil, fallen leaves or chopped long herbs. Parts eaten: Portions of the human body which bears eat are largely muscles and protruding part such as nose, ears and penis. They rarely eat internal organs. Preventing injury: To obviate bear attacks on humans, hunters should avoid firing or pursuite which will lead to sudden counter-attack. Ordinary people should carry a sound-making instrument, such as a whistle or a bell, and a hatchet for self-protection when entering an area presumed to be a bears' habitat. While walking, people should blow or rattle the sound-making instrument, or raise their voices in order to avoid encountering bears unexpectedly. If people should encounter a bear and the bear approach them obstinately, people should not be overawed by the bear. They should chant a spell to admonish the bear for his evil intention of attacking a man, and to encourage themselves as the Ainus, the aborigines of Hokkaido, used to do. Another method is to shout at the bear with a loud voice. Such actions often cause the bear to leave. If a person runs to escape, bears are sure to attack them. Therefore, people should never run to escape, even if bears assume a threatening attitude. If a bear should deliver an actural attack on a person, they should respond with a blow of their hatchet on any part of the bears' body. This will make the bear flinch, and sometimes, give a chance of survival. Feigning death:(View PDF for the rest of the abstract.)