A mama brown bear gave two men driving on a forest road in Japan the fear of their lives after a surprise attack.
According to a Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbunthe attack happened around 1pm on Sunday, April 28, on a road in Hokkaido Prefecture as the men tried to harvest Allium ochotense, a type of wild onion.
The men reported seeing a brown bear, believed to be a female, and her cub on each side of the road. In newly released surveillance footage, the men are seen driving down the road when a bear jumps out of the woods and immediately starts running towards their truck.
In a few seconds, the bear reached the windshield of the truck and hit the wiper. After one hit, the wiper can be seen hanging from the window.
A bear attacks a truck in Japan.
Hokkaido Police via Storyful
Would you rather be in the woods with a bear or a man? Women on TikTok engage in viral debates
As the vehicle tries to reverse, the bear takes a few steps back before pouncing on it again, shattering the windshield.
The video then cuts to a photo of the truck showing additional damage near the front bumper and rear door.
According to NHK Japan, the men were not injured.
As for what could have caused the bear attack, Masami Yamanaka, a special researcher at the Shiretoko Nature Foundation, explained to Mainichi Shimbun, “A car came between the parent and the cub. Since the car approached before the parent bear could escape with her cub, the bear probably decided she had no choice but to attack.”
The police urge citizens to take precautions when going to the mountains, reports NHK Japan.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/bear-attacks-truck-051024-1-eec7aa3b288c4bc28d3092e821ebeba9.jpg)
A bear runs towards a truck in Japan.
Hokkaido Police via Storyful
Tourist injured after rolling down window to take selfie with bear
“Prefectural officials say more than 12,000 brown bears are estimated to have inhabited Hokkaido by the end of 2022. The number has increased 2.3 times over the past three decades,” the media explained.
According to CBS News, 2023 was a record year for bear attacks in Japan. Of the 193 reported bear attacks, six ended in death, the most since 2006.
Never miss a story — subscribe to PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The US National Park Service advises that one of the best tips for avoiding a bear attack after an encounter is to avoid sudden movements and keep a safe distance.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education