Swimming Bear Spotted in Aomori's Mutsu Bay, Culled Offshore Amid Social Media Shock and Concern

On November 14, 2025, an unusual incident occurred in Aomori Prefecture's Mutsu Bay, off the coast of Noheji, when a swimming bear was discovered by fishermen. Following the sighting, a local hunting association dispatched a fishing boat and culled the bear at sea. Reports suggest that this bear is highly likely to be the same individual previously sighted in the vicinity of the former Mamonto Elementary School.

News of this event rapidly spread across social media platform X (formerly Twitter), with “swimming bear” quickly becoming a trending topic. Many users expressed surprise and anxiety, with comments such as, “I can’t believe they’ve even ventured into the sea” and “What are we supposed to do now?” Some sympathetic voices were also heard, lamenting, “It was swimming so hard, and now it’s been culled.”

While bears swimming in the sea may seem unusual, it is, in fact, not uncommon. In 2018, there was a reported case of a Hokkaido brown bear swimming across the sea to Rishiri Island, as bears are known to be excellent swimmers. Following this incident in Aomori, concern has spread on social media about the expanding range of bear activities, with some noting, “We’re now in an era where we might have to consider the possibility of Honshu’s moon bears swimming to Kyushu.”

This particular bear was discovered approximately 2 km offshore in Mutsu Bay, off Noheji. Although no human injuries were reported, the bear's appearance at sea highlights the increasingly close proximity between wildlife and human society, especially amid a nationwide increase in bear sightings in populated areas. The sequence of events—from discovery by fishermen to culling by a hunting association at sea—raises new challenges for bear management strategies.

Experts point out that various complex factors may be behind these changes in bear behavior, including food shortages, habitat loss, or young individuals searching for new territories. As the risk of encountering bears is expected to increase further, residents are urged to exercise greater caution, and new countermeasures are deemed necessary.

The Context

Aomori Prefecture is located at the northernmost tip of Japan's main island, Honshu, and Mutsu Bay is a large inlet known for its rich marine life, including scallop farming. The appearance of a bear swimming 2 km offshore is highly unusual for residents, despite the fact that bears are strong swimmers.

Japan is home to two main bear species: the Ussuri brown bear (Higuma) in Hokkaido and the Asian black bear (Tsukinowaguma) on Honshu and Shikoku. Both species have seen increased human encounters in recent years. This surge is attributed to a combination of factors: habitat encroachment due to human development, shifts in food availability (such as acorns and chestnuts) influenced by climate change, and depopulation in rural areas, which reduces human activity that historically deterred bears from venturing into villages.

The incident in Aomori underscores the growing national challenge of human-wildlife conflict in Japan. Local governments and wildlife experts are grappling with how to manage bear populations, balance conservation efforts with public safety, and adapt to changing bear behaviors. Culling, as seen in this case, is often a controversial but common measure taken when bears pose an immediate threat or repeatedly venture into human settlements, especially when non-lethal methods are impractical or unsuccessful.