Japan study on beech nut suggests increased bear encounters in 2027

Northeast Japan may see a rise in bears approaching humans again in 2027, as a good beech nut yield expected in 2026 suggests a poor harvest the following year, according to a research center analyzing links between bear sightings and their primary food source.In Akita Prefecture, which saw more than 50 casualties from bears this year, good and bad years for beech nuts have alternated since 2021, with a poor year leading to a rise in bears venturing into populated areas, said the Akita Prefecture Forestry Research and Training Center.In a year of plentiful yields, bears tend to become more …READ FULL ARTICLE