クマ被害ひがい市町村しちょうそん判断はんだんで特例とくれい的てきに市街しがい地ちなどでの猟銃りょうじゅう使用しよう可能かのうに

Amid a series of bear appearances in urban areas and incidents of harm to people, a revised law came into effect on the 1st, allowing municipalities to make special exceptions to use hunting rifles in urban areas when bears or similar animals appear in human-inhabited zones.

In the revised Wildlife Protection and Management Act enacted on the 1st, a new system called emergency hunting with firearms was established. Under this system, the use of hunting rifles is permitted only when all four of the following conditions are met: 1 animals such as bears have entered or are highly likely to enter human living areas, 2 the situation is urgent, 3 there are no other means to quickly capture the animal, and 4 there is no risk of bullets reaching people.

Before the law was amended, the use of hunting guns was prohibited in densely populated residential areas and similar places, and hunting guns were only used in emergencies where there was danger to people, based on police officers orders under the Police Duties Execution Act.

However, as bear sightings in human-inhabited areas have increased, more proactive and swift responses are required. Therefore, the law has been revised, and it is now up to municipalities to make decisions.

Municipalities can commission hunters to use hunting guns, and before using the guns, they are required to ensure safety by taking measures such as restricting the movement of nearby residents or issuing evacuation orders.

It is also necessary to check whether there is any risk of bullets ricocheting off concrete or other surfaces, and whether a backstop is in place to prevent bullets from flying backward or in other unintended directions.

If property damage or personal injury still occurs, it is the municipality, not the hunter, that will compensate or indemnify for the loss.

The Ministry of the Environment published guidelines this July, recommending that municipalities create manuals, conduct training, and take out insurance to prepare for possible damages.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi: Swift Response to Bears Now Possible At a morning press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi stated, With the revised law, it is now possible to respond to sightings of bears and other animals safely and swiftly. I understand that this will contribute to ensuring the safety of the public.

Regulations have also been put in place to ensure that hunting with firearms is conducted safely and smoothly, and we will strive for smooth operations.

On top of that, he said, We would like you to understand the revised law and continue to stay fully alert, such as by paying attention to information from local governments about bear sightings in your area.

New System for Urban Bear Removal: Details [Q&A] Q

What is the background behind the enforcement of the revised law?

In recent years, there have been frequent incidents of brown bears, Asian black bears, and wild boars entering areas where people live, resulting in many cases of harm to humans.

In particular, in fiscal year 2023, the number of human injuries caused by bears reached a record high, and there was an urgent need to strengthen countermeasures.

Q

What about bear attacks this year?

According to the summary by the Ministry of the Environment, from April to the end of July this year, 55 people were injured or otherwise harmed by bear attacks: 13 in Nagano Prefecture, 12 in Iwate Prefecture, and 4 each in Akita, Fukushima, and Niigata Prefectures, among others.

Of these, one person each in Hokkaido, Iwate Prefecture, and Nagano Prefecture died, for a total of three deaths.

Compared to the same period in previous years, the number of victims in fiscal 2023, which saw the highest annual total on record, was 56, and this fiscal year remains at almost the same level.

Also, there have been a series of bear sightings at schools and in the surrounding areas, so measures to protect lives continue to be necessary.

Q

With the enforcement of the revised law, in what situations will hunting guns be used?

As for locations, it is mainly assumed to be situations where bears or other animals have entered buildings, as well as farmland and riverbanks.

When using a hunting gun, all four conditions must be met, such as ensuring that there is no risk of bullets reaching people and that safety is secured. Therefore, hunting guns cannot be used in every situation.

The decision to use hunting rifles is made by the municipality, and the actual shooting can be entrusted to hunters. The municipality will carry out evacuation guidance and traffic restrictions in advance.

Q

What are the requirements for a hunter? A

Requirements are that you have a license, practice hunting or shooting with a gun at least twice a year, and have experience within the past three years capturing bears, wild boars, or Japanese deer using the same type of gun as those used in urban areas.

There is a nationwide issue of the number of hunters decreasing.

According to the Ministry of the Environment, the number of people who have obtained a Type 1 hunting license, which is required to use rifles and shotguns, was 297,000 in fiscal year 1985, but had decreased to 90,000 by fiscal year 2020.

Q

What kind of preparations are local governments making for the enforcement of the revised law?

Some municipalities conduct drills based on the assumption that bears may appear in urban areas.

For example, in Shibata City, Niigata Prefecture, a drill was conducted on August 25th with about 50 participants, including city officials, police, and members of the hunting association. They checked the entire process, such as closing nearby roads to keep people away and using public relations vehicles to urge residents to evacuate.

Also, in case of any damage, such as a hunting rifle bullet hitting a building, there is a movement to take out insurance.

According to a major non-life insurance company that sells insurance products, more than 100 local governments had contacted them expressing interest in joining their insurance by August.

Q

What are the challenges ahead? Professor Shinsuke Koike of the Graduate School of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, who is well-versed in bear ecology, points out the following.

【1

[Expertise of Local Government Employees] Local government staff in charge of wildlife are not necessarily experts or possess specialized knowledge about wildlife.

There are also personnel transfers, so its not like theyll be in charge for a long time, and having such people make the decision to open fire puts a heavy burden on the staff.

It is necessary for local governments to hire staff who specialize in capturing wild animals, or to take the time to train such staff themselves.

【2

[Measures such as blocking entry routes to prevent them from entering urban areas] There is always some reason why wild animals appear in urban areas.

As long as the cause remains, animals will keep getting in again and again, even if you remove them once.

We must implement fundamental measures such as clearing thickets to block entry routes, so that it will not be easy for them to enter human settlements or urban areas from the forest; otherwise, the problem of appearances in urban areas will not be resolved.

【3

[Countermeasures During Normal Times] We need to reconsider what long-term actions are necessary to prevent animals from appearing in urban areas, and we must proactively implement measures during normal times to prevent animals from leaving the forest in the first place, such as developing human resources and raising awareness among residents.