In the second half of 2023, there were countless reports of bear attacks in Japan. The rise in incidents was due mainly to a poor crop of acorns, which are a major part of the animals’ diet in autumn. But many other factors are involved, including an aging and shrinking human population in the areas where bears live. Many are opposed to the idea of indiscriminate culling, but is it really possible for human beings and bears to coexist peacefully?
  • TroyEnglish
    3•6 months ago

    There are parts of Canada where bears outnumber people – but very rarely in the big cities. One day last spring I saw 20 bears in a single day – mostly on the roadside munching down dandelion shoots. They’re omnivores, and provided they have something to eat, they are generally skittish enough around people to scram when there’s an encounter. Seems like the above is largely driven by a food shortage.

    There’s a lovely word here. Synanthrope. I don’t think bears are synanthropic (able to colonize and thrive in human built up environments).