More and more people here in Japan are being attacked by bears. Two were mauled Thursday in the northeastern prefecture of Iwate. One was found dead.
The most incidents have been reported in Akita Prefecture, also in the northeast. Five people were attacked Thursday in an urban area.
NHK found at least 152 people have been hurt by bears since April.
Attacks have been reported in 17 of Japan's 47 prefectures. And the number is rising faster than ever.
A member of a Toyama prefectural government task force says bears are increasingly coming down to lowland areas because of a shortage of food such as beechnuts.
The central and local governments are urging people to be extra careful, as bears tend to do more damage at this time of year before they hibernate.
◆maul （動物が爪などで）引っかいて傷つける、切り裂く