Bear opens window in factory escape, Japanese police say

A bear that was holed up inside an electronics factory in north-east Japan after attacking four people has eluded capture, apparently by opening a window by itself and fleeing under the cover of night, authorities said.

The bear's trail suggests it released the window latch and pushed it open, according to city officials. Before Wednesday's escape, the bear was seen opening a faucet to drink using its front paws.

"We believe it to be extremely intelligent," Fukushima Mayor Yuki Baba said, according to Kyodo news agency.

The bear entered a steel factory in Fukushima late on Tuesday and attacked four people before moving to the nearby electronics facility, where authorities had hoped to catch it.

But an attempt to immobilise it with a tranquiliser dart failed. Food traps also proved ineffective, as the bear was able to eat the fruit and honey baits without getting caught, Japanese media report.

Authorities said they tried turning off the lights to lure the bear into the traps on Wednesday night, but it escaped through a window which it is thought to have unlatched.

Shooting measures had been authorised, but police refrained as there were flammable materials inside the factory.

Japan has been battling rising bear attacks, with a record number of 13 people killed in such incidents between April 2025 and March this year.

Attacks have historically tended to increase in the autumn, just before bears go into hibernation.

On Thursday, Fukushima authorities launched a drone search for the bear. Schools also switched to online classes for the day.

"It's not that we neglected our response efforts, but we are left with regret," Mayor Baba said of the bear's escape.