The bear burglar took off out the back door after he was discovered… but not before rifling through the bin for food scraps
An Asian black bear (FILE IMAGE)(Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
An elderly couple in Japan have been left stunned after a bear broke into their home in order to raid their fridge.Mitsuo Matsubara, 87, discovered their unwelcome houseguest on Monday night after hearing a noise coming from the kitchen in his home in Shizukuishi, in Iwate prefecture in Japan’s north. His wife called emergency services but, thankfully, authorities confirmed to the press in Japan that no one was hurt by the bear burglar. Matsubara discovered the bear rummaging through their fridge, with the dangerous incident one of many bear intrusions in Japan as the massive mammals are driven into towns in search of food. The Matsubara household becomes the fifth bear-break in since July 5. A bear – perhaps even the same one – made four separate visits to the home of a 70-year-old resident. The bear stole cat food and pickles, police said.As per the Independent, a police official said footprints indicated that the bear exited the home through a back door next to the kitchen. It then also rifled through a bin looking for food waste.
In Shizukuishi, Iwate of North Japan a Black Bear roams about the wilderness looking for food (FILE IMAGE)(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
At least five deaths have been recorded since April across Japan with run-ins with bears on the rise, with all taking place in the Tohoku region. The year prior, a record 13 fatal bear attacks took place across the nation, as per the Japan Times.Bears have emerged from hibernation in recent weeks, with the animals straying into towns and cities to wreak havoc while on the lookout for food. Scientists believe the rise in bear break-ins are thanks to a growing bear population, fewer people living in rural areas, and changes to the availability of their usual food. In June, a bear gave officials and police the runaround for four whole days in Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo. A number of schools were forced to close in Tochigi prefecture as a result. Prior to that, authorities worked to thwart a bear in Fukushima for days. The massive mammal, who had been described as smarter than your average bear, attacked four people. It evaded police by outsmarting numerous bear traps, unlatched a factory window, and managed to turning on water taps with its paws.
