Measures against brown bears

Hello, this is Tsuyama of Shiretoko Dai-ichi Hotel writer!

In Shiretoko, which is also registered in World Heritage, you can see many wildlife throughout the four seasons! But the most powerful of them is brown bears. Brown bears are a valuable tourist resource of Shiretoko, which the Ainu people call Kim kamui (the god of the mountain).

It is said that there are about 500 brown bears on the Shiretoko Peninsula, which is about 70 km long and about 20 km wide, and it is quite dense even globally. As a result, ordinary tourists often encounter brown bears and sometimes get in trouble.

Recently, brown bears, who misunderstood that "you can get delicious food when you approach people," appear not only in sightseeing spots but also in general residential areas.

Therefore, this time, we will tell you about "3 famous sightseeing spots where brown bears appear" and "How to deal with brown bears" that you should know before going to Shiretoko. In addition, since it is a precious sightseeing in Shiretoko, we will also introduce how to safely observe brown bears!

We hope that you will enjoy your trip to Shiretoko safely and safely by referring to this blog!

1. 3 brown bear haunting spots that tourists want to watch out

（1） Flepe Falls promenade

Flepe Falls is a 100m waterfall that flows from the cliffs of Cape Puyuni on the Shiretoko Peninsula to the Sea of Okhotsk, and is a popular tourist destination selected as one of the Eight Views of Shiretoko! It is also called "Otome Falls".

There is a flat promenade of 20 minutes one way to the waterfall, and you can see rare plants, wild birds and Hokkaido Sika Deer on the way.

This Flepe Falls promenade is actually a brown bear haunting spot. Brown bears have been witnessed throughout the year, and some have actually approached tourists.

If you encounter a brown bear in promenade, please turn back quietly without approaching. Also, if brown bears appear, promenade may be closed, so be sure to check the Shiretoko Foundation website before going to Frepe Falls.

Reference: Shiretoko Information Tamate Box – The Shiretoko Foundation (shiretoko.or.jp)
Reference: An example of a user approaching a brown bear at Frepe Falls promenade

（2） Shiretoko National Park

Shiretoko National Park is a place where you can enjoy the ecosystems and landscapes that represent Shiretoko in World Heritage, and there are popular tourist destinations such as Shiretoko Goko Lakes in the park.

However, seeing a variety of ecosystems means that at the same time, it is also the home of wildlife. For this reason, Shiretoko National Park is said to be the high density habitat of brown bears worldwide.

Because of the high brown bear encounter rate at Shiretoko National Park, tourists and photographers who wanted to see brown bears often visited, and attracted them with food. Because of this, there is also a problem that brown bears become accustomed to people.

For this reason, the Diet is currently discussing the revision of the bill, "If you feed brown bears in national parks, you will be fined", and it will be enforced in the spring of 2022. Everyone who will visit Shiretoko will be very careful with the rules.

Reference: It attracts visitors with food for brown bears, and frequently occurs in Shiretoko.…Cabinet decision on fines bill
Reference: Parent-child bear sightings are occurring frequently along the road of Shiretoko National Park

（3） Around the Horobetsu River

The Horobetsu River is located at the entrance of Shari Town side of Shiretoko National Park, and in autumn it is a famous tourist spot where you can see Karaft mouth and Shirozake go up. It is also a good fishing spot, and it is a place where many people, from locals to tourists, come for fishing.

However, trout and salmon on the Horobetsu River are also food for brown bears. For this reason, brown bears frequently appear around the Horobetsu River after the fall when salmon run up in full swing.

Therefore, at the mouth of the Horobetsu River since 2016, the "Horobetsu Fishing Protection Association" has been volunteering to protect personal safety from brown bears.

However, the fishing grounds were temporarily closed in August 2021 due to the difficulty of volunteering due to COVID-19 and inability to ensure the safety of visitors. It is now open again, but when you go, be sure to check the latest information before visiting.

Latest News: Shiretoko Foundation Brown Bear Countermeasures Shiretoko Nature Foundation

Also, if you want to see the salmon run up, we recommend using a tour that you can enjoy safely in order to protect yourself from brown bears. The information on the spring to autumn tour is introduced in detail in the following blog, so please refer to it!

Enjoy the unexplored areas of Shiretoko on a tour! 7 recommended tours of Shiretoko from spring to autumn

As mentioned above, we introduced three famous sightseeing spots where brown bears often appear. In fact, it may appear in addition to these three places, so be sure to check the Shiretoko Foundation website before visiting sightseeing spots!

2. How to deal with brown bear encounters

The first thing to do is not go to a place where you meet brown bears, but what should I do if I meet them? Here's how to deal with different distances.

<Three Distance Methods>
①Distance 100m (relatively far away)

・The bear is not aware, or even if it is ignored.
Quietly and slowly get away from the place.

・The bear is approaching slowly
There is a possibility that the bear may not be aware of a human being, so go up to a stone or fallen tree and shake your arms and speak gently. If it still approaches, evacuate immediately inside the car, indoors, otherwise on a tree. If you have a bear repulsion spray, be prepared for the injection.

②Distance 20-50m

・The bear will rise up or come out
Move quietly to a place where there is an obstacle between the bear while swinging your arms and gently calling out. If the bear ignores this, keep an eye on the bear (but do not look at it) and slowly leave the place. Sudden behavior is NG because it excites the bear. If you are approaching, evacuate immediately inside the car or indoors without panic.

③Distance of less than 20m

・Suddenly encountered in front of you
Calm down, quiet, don't run, raise your arms slowly, swing, and talk calmly. It's NG to stimulate loudly. In addition, brown bears respond to things that move quickly, so if you run and run away, you may follow them. (The brown bear can run at 60km/h)

This Shiretoko Foundation article explains in detail what to do when you encounter brown bears and how to obtain bear repulsion spray. Before visiting Shiretoko's sightseeing spots, we recommend that you check them out.

Reference: Shiretoko Foundation Brown Bear Handling

3 actions you should not do.
In order to avoid encountering brown bears, it is also important to act that does not attract brown bears. Here are three things you want to avoid.

①Leave the fish caught: Bears come because they are attracted to the smell of fish's internal organs and blood. Put the fish you catch in a box immediately and take it home.

②Get closer to taking a picture: It promotes the use of brown bears, and increases the risk of becoming predatory. Stay away from it and stay quiet.

③Walk with your dog: If you have a dog that is sensitive to smell, you can bark and stimulate the hidden brown bear. Avoid taking your dog to a brown bear spot.

Reference: Shiretoko National Park Silekoko

3. A tour where you can observe brown bears safely

Finally, since I came to Shiretoko, I want to see a brown bear! For those who say, we recommend a sightseeing boat where you can see brown bears safely. In particular, I would like to introduce sightseeing boats that go to the Lusha area where brown bears are often seen.

Godzilla Rock Sightseeing Lusha Course

<Overview of the tour>
Brown bear sighting rate: More than 80%!
Time: April to October (recommended around May to June and September)
Time About 2 hours
Price: Adults 6,000 yen, children (elementary school students and younger) 3,000 yen

By the way, at Shiretoko Dai-ichi Hotel, there is a discount plan that includes accommodation and Lusha course tickets. There is also a sea handbook that usually needs to be purchased separately.
If you want to enjoy brown bears at a great price, we definitely recommend using this plan!

In addition, cruise companies such as Shiretoko Pleasure Boat and dolphin also offer Lusha Bay courses. The characteristics of each cruise company in Shiretoko are also introduced in detail in the following blog, so please refer to it!

【Thorough Anatomy of Shiretoko Cruise Ship】 A thorough comparison of the services of the five companies operating Shiretoko-kankosen

How was it? This time, we introduced the brown bears of wild animals that represent Shiretoko. You may encounter brown bears at any time in Shiretoko from spring to autumn. If you do not stimulate it, you can avoid collisions, so take measures in advance and enjoy sightseeing Shiretoko happily and safely!

Also, after sightseeing in Shiretoko, be sure to enjoy the gourmet food of Shiretoko and Utoro Onsen overlooking Okhotsk at the Shiretoko Dai-ichi Hotel. Shiretoko Dai-ichi Hotel's Instagram offers the latest information on the monthly Maruskoi restaurant, so please check it out!

As mentioned above, Shiretoko Dai-ichi Hotel writer Tsuyama delivered it!