Japan deploys terrifying robot wolves to scare off bears after string of deadly attacks

Japan has deployed robot wolves to scare off bears after a string of deadly attacks.

The terrifying "monster wolves" are designed to scare away bears with flashing red eyes, loud growls and howling sounds.

Ohta Seiki, the Hokkaido-based company that makes the devices, said it has already received around 50 orders in 2026, more than the usual volume for the entire year.

Yuji Ohta, president of the company, said the wolves could not be made fast enough to keep up with demand.

There are wait times of up to three months for prospective customers, he told AFP.

Bears killed 13 people across Japan in 2025, while more than 50,000 sightings were recorded nationwide, both record highs.

Northern Japan has been hit particularly hard, with local media reporting that sightings in April were more than four times higher than last year as the animals emerge from hibernation.

The surge in bear encounters has been attributed to warmer temperatures which have disrupted the animals' hibernation cycles.

Food shortages caused by crop failures have also been blamed after Japan faced a record hot summer in 2025.

These factors have led to bears approaching human settlements much more closely.

The "Monster Wolves" cost around $4,000 (£2,960) and include solar panels, batteries, sensors and speakers capable of broadcasting more than 50 different sounds.

The units are purchased by the likes of farmers, golf course operators and construction workers.

In 2026, a 55-year-old woman has been killed by a bear - and two more bodies have been found and identified as possible bear maulings.

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The bears have been seen entering homes, approaching schools, and roaming through busy shopping areas.

The number of bears captured and culled nearly tripled from a year earlier to 14,601, also marking a record high.

First launched in 2016, the "Monster Wolves", designed to protect crops from bears and deer, were widely dismissed as a gimmick.

But Mr Ohta said demand has increased since the wolves' initial launch.

He said: "Awareness of bear safety and measures against wildlife damage improved.

"There was also a growing recognition that our product is effective in dealing with bears."

The wolves, which move their heads side to side while flashing LED lights, have been upgraded with versions mounted on wheels which can patrol routes and actively chase animals.

Mr Ohta said the company is also exploring smaller handheld versions for hikers and schoolchildren, as well as AI-powered camera systems to automatically detect approaching animals.

He added: "We wanted to apply our manufacturing to do our part to deal with bears."