Bear Attack in Japanese Supermarket Leaves Employee Injured

A bear entered a supermarket in northeastern Japan on November 30. The bear attacked a 47-year-old employee, causing injuries to his head and face. He was taken to the hospital and is in stable condition.

The incident occurred at the Itoku Tsuchizaki Minato Store in Akita Prefecture. The store was closed at the time, and no customers were present. The bear, approximately 1 meter long, remained inside the store as of 9 a.m. on December 1.

Prior to the attack, 21 employees were preparing to open the store at 6:30 a.m. An emergency call was made to police when the attack happened. A fellow employee found the injured man and carried him to safety, despite the bear being nearby.

City workers set up box traps at two entrances of the store to capture the bear. The store is located about 200 meters west of National Route 7 in the city center.