Emergency Information from Hakuundake Shelter. 30th August, 2025.
Around 4:00 PM on August 30th, a hiker encountered a brown bear on the trail toward Mt. Chubetsu, approximately 2 km from the Takane-ga-hara junction. The hiker used bear spray to deter the brown bear.
The hiker was alone. Weather conditions were dense fog.
He was moving from the direction of Mt. Hakuundake toward Mt. Chubetsu.
Visibility was poor, but he was making noise using a radio and bells.
While walking on the trail with small ups and downs, he suddenly encountered the brown bear at the top of an ascent,
about 10 meters away.
The hiker slowly backed away, but the brown bear growled and approached.
With no distance between them, the situation remained deadlocked for about 5 minutes. At a distance of about 10 meters,
the hiker sprayed bear repellent.
The brown bear rubbed its face on the ground and then departed up the Takane-ga-hara slope.
The hiker returned to the Hakuundake Shelter hut.
On the way back, another brown bear was confirmed about 50 meters from the trail.
Another hiker witnessed a mother bear and cub about 50 meters away around 2:00 PM.
They recognized the hikers but showed no concern.
Based on the above, there are three groups of brown bears in this area, one of which is approaching hikers.
Hikers must recognize that this is a dangerous individual brown bear.
This year, the number of injuries and fatalities caused by brown bears in Hokkaido has increased.
Please modify your mountain hiking plans to avoid danger.
The area around Mt. Hakuundake is where brown bears appear every year, and it is covered with the berries and grasses of alpine plants that brown bears favor. Never underestimate the mountains and brown bears.
