A fatal bear attack occurred near Mount Rausu in Shiretoko, Hokkaido, where a man running down a poorly visible mountain trail likely encountered a mother brown bear protecting her cub. Investigations at the site have uncovered personal belongings such as shoes, a smartphone, and sunglasses believed to belong to the victim. The Hokkaido Hunters' Association has advised branches that they may refuse to shoot bears in urban areas. Meanwhile, in the Lake Tahoe region, a female bear known as "Hope" has broken into at least a dozen homes over the past month while accompanied by her cub, prompting wildlife advocates to seek protection for the animals. In Hokkaido, environmental concerns have intensified over plans for 27 mega solar projects near the Kushiro Wetlands, which threaten the habitat of the red-crowned crane and could increase bear encounters in residential areas. The city of Kushiro declared a "No More Mega Solar" policy in June, citing the risk of wildlife displacement. Alpinist Ken Noguchi criticized the environmental degradation caused by these developments and highlighted the lack of stringent regulations in Japan compared to countries like Germany, where forest destruction for solar projects requires compensatory reforestation. The Japanese Environment Ministry plans to increase funding to local governments to better address the rising frequency of bear attacks nationwide. Additionally, Hokkaido has started its autumn "bear caution period" earlier than usual in response to increased bear sightings.