Last year, Japan saw the most bear attacks on record, with 13 deaths and more than 200 human injuries. One company’s solution to keep bears away is flying off the shelves: animatronic scarecrows.
According to CBS News, the Hokkaido-based company that makes the “Monster Wolf”—a Halloween-like decoration a little less than a meter tall—had received 50 orders by May, 2026. This represented more in five months than the company usually sees in an entire year. Orders are coming from people who work outdoors in rural areas, like farmers and golf course operators. The high-tech canine was first launched in 2016 to help reduce agricultural damage from deer, boars (Sus scrofa sp.) and bears. It is made of artificial fur, a pipe frame, speakers and glowing red eyes. Priced at around $4,000 USD, the wolf can broadcast more than 50 different recorded sounds, including human voices that can be heard up to a kilometer away. While Japan’s endemic wolves have been extinct for more than two centuries, the eerie scarecrow still does its job to keep the bears away.
The reasons bear attacks are increasing in Japan—especially in urban areas—are complex. Some scientists point to rural depopulation and shifting demographics across the country, while others think climactic and environmental shifts are to blame. Bear attacks in 2026 seem to show no indication of slowing down. Since April 2026, Japan has reported three fatalities and 20 injuries due to bear encounters.
