Authorities in Hokkaido, northern Japan, are warning people who go into forests to forage for edible plants to watch out for brown bears and to avoid accidents.
About 20 officials, including police officers, distributed leaflets on Sunday in the city of Kitahiroshima along a mountain path in an effort to raise awareness.
The leaflets warn that visibility is poor within the bamboo thicket, making it easy to get lost. They urge people to tell family members when to expect them back, wear red or other bright colors and carry a whistle.
Officials also used a helicopter to make an announcement telling people in mountainous areas to bring bells that frighten off bears, bear spray and radios.
Numerous bear attacks have been reported in many parts of the country involving people picking wild plants.
Police say another issue is people going into forests to forage and getting lost, with 300 cases in Hokkaido over a period of 5 years ending last year. About 70 percent of these cases occurred in May and June.
AloJapan.com