Posted on 11/17/2020 10:37:37 AM PST by SJackson
A robot called Monster Wolf, equipped with sensors that can detect bears or vermin, is installed in an effort to scare away bears that have become an increasingly dangerous nuisance in the countryside, in Takikawa on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido. KYODO / REUTERS
A town in northern Japan has recently been plagued by a plethora of wild bears, roaming around neighborhoods and petrifying residents. In an attempt to prevent attacks, the town of Takikawa has now installed terrifying robotic wolves to howl at the bears and scare them off, Reuters reports.
The residents of Takikawa, located on the northernmost island of Hokkaido, have been increasingly concerned by the potential of bear attacks, as sightings in the country hit a five-year high, according to national broadcaster NHK. There have been dozens of reported attacks this year, two of them fatal, leading to an emergency government meeting last month to address the issue.
Conservationists speculate the increase in bear attacks may be due to a shortage of acorns in the wilderness, which has caused the bears to inch closer to cities in search of food ahead of hibernation. Deforestation and subsequent habitat loss have only exacerbated the problem, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
In response, the town purchased and installed a couple of the so-called "Monster Wolf" robots in September. Officials recently said there have been zero reports of bear encounters since.
The scarecrow-like robots have shaggy bodies, four legs, blond manes and glowing red eyes. If the motion detectors are activated, they move their heads, flash the lights in their eyes and project up to 60 equally-horrifying sounds, including howls.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
Apparently the Japanese don’t know about the Spark Away bear deterrent device. https://spark-away.com/
I believe they really work and my two devices have chased a monster moma black bear and her cub out of my back yard and back to my front street where she had come from.
Never seen that. I’ve friends who have problems with deer in gardens. I’ll pass it around. I wonder if they become acclimated to it.
I’ve been told that in the rare exceptions for shotguns, you have to bring used shells in to purchase new ones.
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