In the mountainous regions of Japan, a new approach to managing bear populations is being tested, as attacks on humans have increased across the country. Scientists like Akiko Takii are working to understand and manage the growing bear population without resorting to culling, which has led to the killing of thousands of bears nationwide. Recently, Takii responded to a sensor alert in Nagano, where she encountered a young, 15-kilogram Asiatic black bear. The bear, estimated to be about a year and a half old, had recently separated from its mother. Takii and her team took blood and fur samples after her co-researcher tranquilized the young female, then released it because it was too small to be tagged with a GPS tracker. This method of trapping, tagging, and releasing bears is part of a pioneering management plan that began in 1995, aimed at preserving the bear population in central Japan’s Honshu island, where numbers had been declining. The program is gaining attention as a model for coexistence between humans and bears. Instead of culling bears to prevent attacks, this approach focuses on non-lethal methods to manage their interactions with people. According to Takii, by avoiding the killing of too many bears, more of them survive to live out their expected lifespan, leading to a healthier bear population. The program is paired with other strategies, such as using specially trained Karelian Bear Dogs to scare bears away and installing over 3,000 kilometers of fencing near farms, towns, and rivers. These measures aim to reduce encounters and monitor bear movements. Bears that slip through the barriers are tranquilized, tagged, and released elsewhere. The program has reportedly contributed to a recovery in bear numbers and a reduction in human-bear encounters, despite the difficulty of accurately counting the animals. Bear attacks have been on the rise in Japan, with six people killed nationwide since April 1, following a record 13 fatal attacks in the previous fiscal year. Sightings of bears have also doubled the previous record, with the animals increasingly moving into the outskirts of towns and cities. Experts suggest that this trend is due to a combination of factors, including changes in food availability, such as acorns, and the effects of climate change. Additionally, the depopulation of rural areas and the expansion of urban areas have led to less managed forests and farmland, providing more food sources for bears, such as unharvested fruit like persimmons. Professor Shuichi Kitoh from Tokyo University explained that while bears are not necessarily more aggressive, certain individuals may become problematic. He emphasized the need to identify and manage these individuals rather than culling the entire population. The Japanese government’s response to the growing bear issue has largely focused on culling, with the process expanded to include bears that wander into buffer zones around towns. Even before recent expansions, a record 14,000 bears were culled in the previous fiscal year, averaging nearly 40 per day. Takii’s coexistence program in Nagano offers an alternative, showing potential in reducing dangerous encounters. While direct comparisons are difficult, Nagano has recorded fewer bear-related incidents compared to other regions. Despite these efforts, some residents still support culling, with the annual culling limit in Nagano recently doubled to 675. Takii’s research group now focuses solely on scientific studies through catch-and-release methods, while her outreach continues. At a local school, she teaches children about bear behavior, allowing them to handle bear pelts and skulls. Parents like Mitsuko Sawanishi have taken away practical lessons, emphasizing the importance of keeping food away from bears and maintaining a safe distance.