First Fatal Bear Attack in Yamagata, Japan in 37 Years; Elderly Man Killed While Foraging

An elderly man in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, went missing earlier this month after heading into the mountains of Sakata City to forage for wild vegetables. Police announced today that the man was killed by a bear, marking the first fatal bear attack in Yamagata in 37 years. Local police reported that after finding the body, members of a local hunting association shot a bear in the vicinity. Human remains were subsequently found in the bear's stomach. An autopsy confirmed the man died from blood loss due to severe injuries. DNA testing matched the bear to the victim, leading police to confirm it as a fatal bear attack.