A Japanese company making ferocious-looking "Monster wolf" robots is in high demand to scare off bears in Japan after several fatal bear attacks on humans last year. The designed robot is an animatronic scarecrow with flashing red eyes that howls and growls threateningly to scare away wild animals. The Hokkaido-based company, Ohta Seiki, that makes the devices, has already received nearly 50 orders in 2026, more than the firm usually receives in an entire year. "We make them by hand. We cannot make them fast enough now. We are asking our customers to wait two to three months," company president Yuji Ohta told AFP.&nbsp;"Awareness of bear safety and measures against wildlife damage (on farm products) improved. There was also a growing recognition that our product is effective in dealing with bears," Ohta said, adding that most orders are coming from farmers, golf course operators and people who work outdoors in rural regions. Bears were responsible for 13 deaths across Japan during 2025–2026, more than double the previous record, while over 200 others were injured. Last week, authorities confirmed the first fatal bear attack of 2026, along with two other suspected deadly incidents.<h3>Terror of bears across the city</h3>Official figures show that more than 50,000 bear sightings were reported across the country, more than twice the previous record set two years earlier. Bears were spotted on airport runways, golf courses, near schools, and even around supermarkets and hot spring resorts, triggering near-daily concern. The number of bears captured and subsequently culled also surged, nearly tripling from the previous year to 14,601, setting a new all-time record. Local media confirmed that several northern regions also reported more than four times as many bear sightings in April compared with the same period last year, as the animals emerge from hibernation. Scientists attribute the rise in attacks to the rapidly growing numbers of bears, combined with a falling human population, particularly in rural areas. This depopulation has effectively given bears more space to expand into new territories, biologist Koji Yamazaki of Tokyo University of Agriculture told CBS News’ Elizabeth Palmer in 2023.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/cheaters-will-cheat-again-and-again-study-shows-infidelity-is-a-pattern-1778678680243">Cheaters will cheat...again, and again: Study shows infidelity is a pattern</a>

Bears were spotted on airport runways, golf courses, near schools, and even around supermarkets and hot spring resorts, triggering near-daily concern. The number of bears captured nearly tripled from the previous year to 14,601, setting a new record.

A Japanese company making ferocious-looking "Monster wolf" robots is in high demand to scare off bears in Japan after several fatal bear attacks on humans last year. The designed robot is an animatronic scarecrow with flashing red eyes that howls and growls threateningly to scare away wild animals. The Hokkaido-based company, Ohta Seiki, that makes the devices, has already received nearly 50 orders in 2026, more than the firm usually receives in an entire year. "We make them by hand. We cannot make them fast enough now. We are asking our customers to wait two to three months," company president Yuji Ohta told AFP. "Awareness of bear safety and measures against wildlife damage (on farm products) improved. There was also a growing recognition that our product is effective in dealing with bears," Ohta said, adding that most orders are coming from farmers, golf course operators and people who work outdoors in rural regions. Bears were responsible for 13 deaths across Japan during 2025–2026, more than double the previous record, while over 200 others were injured. Last week, authorities confirmed the first fatal bear attack of 2026, along with two other suspected deadly incidents. Terror of bears across the city Official figures show that more than 50,000 bear sightings were reported across the country, more than twice the previous record set two years earlier. Bears were spotted on airport runways, golf courses, near schools, and even around supermarkets and hot spring resorts, triggering near-daily concern. The number of bears captured and subsequently culled also surged, nearly tripling from the previous year to 14,601, setting a new all-time record. Local media confirmed that several northern regions also reported more than four times as many bear sightings in April compared with the same period last year, as the animals emerge from hibernation. Scientists attribute the rise in attacks to the rapidly growing numbers of bears, combined with a falling human population, particularly in rural areas. This depopulation has effectively given bears more space to expand into new territories, biologist Koji Yamazaki of Tokyo University of Agriculture told CBS News’ Elizabeth Palmer in 2023. Also read: Cheaters will cheat...again, and again: Study shows infidelity is a pattern

Bears were spotted on airport runways, golf courses, near schools, and even around supermarkets and hot spring resorts, triggering near-daily concern. The number of bears captured nearly tripled from the previous year to 14,601, setting a new record.

Flashing eyes, loud howls: Japan’s ‘Monster Wolf’ robots see boom in orders as bear attacks rise

In Japan, to deter natural predators, an alternative to the haunting howls of real wolves has been found in the 'Monster Wolf', a robot to deter natural predators from populated areas in a safe way.&nbsp;

Its mechanical neck swings a bit, akin to a living creature glimpsing its territory. A nice blend of technology and tradition, it is designed to terrify potential pests.&nbsp;

A report in ABC News states that the Monster Wolf bears lifelike proportions and glowing red eyes to confront wildlife intrusions into human domains, in a way that a 21st-century scarecrow would do.&nbsp;

<h2>Why does Japan need a Monster Wolf&nbsp;— and so many of them?</h2>

Japan's natural predators are dwindling as their habitats become the site of human habitation. Animals such as deer, wild boars and bears enter territories where humans live.&nbsp;

Deer and boars eat the agricultural produce. Besides, the encounters between monkeys and humans are often dangerous.&nbsp;

"It has been a success," Yuji Ohta of Tokyo-headquartered technology company Ohta Seiki was quoted as saying by ABC News.

"To date, no one has questioned its effectiveness, nor have we faced any returns due to dissatisfaction."

According to Ohta, the&nbsp;Monster Wolves can deter wild animals near golf courses, highway entrances, and railroad crossings.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-from-arikomban-in-kerala-to-arisi-komban-in-tamil-nadu-a-wild-tuskers-journey-593426">India: From 'Arikomban' in Kerala to 'Arisi komban' in Tamil Nadu- A wild tusker's journey</a>

"I think it's much more cost-effective to threaten with a machine and drive it away from the village than the cost of a lot of people going out and exterminating it," Ohta was further quoted as saying.&nbsp;

The robot in wolf's clothing has also attracted international attention. ABC News reports that there have been&nbsp;inquiries from around ten countries.

Also watch |&nbsp;WION Climate Tracker: World Wildlife fund highlights 10 priority areas

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But it will be a long time before a Monster Wolf could emerge as a solution to wildlife's complementary encroachments into human territories worldwide.

"While the global interest is encouraging, the Monster Wolf requires specific on-site installations," Ohta told ABC News. "At present, we are not set up for international deployments."

In Japan, to deter natural predators, an alternative to the haunting howls of real wolves has been found in the 'Monster Wolf', a robot to deter natural predators from populated areas in a safe way.

In Japan, to deter natural predators, an alternative to the haunting howls of real wolves has been found in the 'Monster Wolf', a robot to deter natural predators from populated areas in a safe way. Its mechanical neck swings a bit, akin to a living creature glimpsing its territory. A nice blend of technology and tradition, it is designed to terrify potential pests. A report in ABC News states that the Monster Wolf bears lifelike proportions and glowing red eyes to confront wildlife intrusions into human domains, in a way that a 21st-century scarecrow would do. Why does Japan need a Monster Wolf — and so many of them? Japan's natural predators are dwindling as their habitats become the site of human habitation. Animals such as deer, wild boars and bears enter territories where humans live. Deer and boars eat the agricultural produce. Besides, the encounters between monkeys and humans are often dangerous. "It has been a success," Yuji Ohta of Tokyo-headquartered technology company Ohta Seiki was quoted as saying by ABC News. "To date, no one has questioned its effectiveness, nor have we faced any returns due to dissatisfaction." According to Ohta, the Monster Wolves can deter wild animals near golf courses, highway entrances, and railroad crossings. Also read | India: From 'Arikomban' in Kerala to 'Arisi komban' in Tamil Nadu- A wild tusker's journey "I think it's much more cost-effective to threaten with a machine and drive it away from the village than the cost of a lot of people going out and exterminating it," Ohta was further quoted as saying. The robot in wolf's clothing has also attracted international attention. ABC News reports that there have been inquiries from around ten countries. Also watch | WION Climate Tracker: World Wildlife fund highlights 10 priority areas × But it will be a long time before a Monster Wolf could emerge as a solution to wildlife's complementary encroachments into human territories worldwide. "While the global interest is encouraging, the Monster Wolf requires specific on-site installations," Ohta told ABC News. "At present, we are not set up for international deployments."

Japan is relying on a 'Monster Wolf' to scare away wild predators from populated areas

Japan is famous for its quirky solutions to all problems. Now, a town in Japan has put robot wolves to work. No kidding, the wolves have been deployed in various places to scare off bears. In the countryside, bears have become a dangerous nuisance for people.

Situated on the northern island of Hokkaido, the town of Takikawa recently bought a pair of robots and installed them at hotspots after noticing bears in the streets. The wild animals that are dangerous to humans were seen roaming through neighbourhoods in September. Officials in the city noted that no encounters have been reported since then.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/climate-change-could-wipe-out-polar-bears-by-2100-report-314956" hreflang="en">Climate change could wipe out polar bears by 2100: Report</a>

In Japan, bear sightings are currently at a five-year high, mostly in rural areas of north and west Japan, as national broadcaster NHK had reported.

Bears have been involved in over a dozen attacks on human, two of which were fatal. This triggered the government to step-up efforts to tackle the attacks.

The government convened an emergency meeting last month to address the threat of bears.

The&nbsp; 'Monster Wolf' robot consists of a body-like shaggy on four legs, a blond mane and glowing-red eyes.&nbsp;

Once its motion detectors are activated, it moves its head, flashes different lights, and emits 60 different types of sounds that resemble wolfish howling. Since 2018, machinery maker Ohta Seiki has sold about 70 units of the robot.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/climate-change-and-human-encroachment-increasing-cannibalism-among-polar-bears-283061" hreflang="en">Climate change and human encroachment increasing cannibalism among polar bears</a>

The robot is based on Japanese wolves that roamed central and northern islands of Japan before they were hunted to extinction more than a century ago.

According to Takikawa city officials, bears become more active and dangerous while searching for food before they go into hibernation in late November.

Japan is famous for its quirky solutions to all problems. Now, a town in Japan has put robot wolves to work. No kidding, the wolves have been deployed in various places to scare off bears.

Japan is famous for its quirky solutions to all problems. Now, a town in Japan has put robot wolves to work. No kidding, the wolves have been deployed in various places to scare off bears. In the countryside, bears have become a dangerous nuisance for people. Situated on the northern island of Hokkaido, the town of Takikawa recently bought a pair of robots and installed them at hotspots after noticing bears in the streets. The wild animals that are dangerous to humans were seen roaming through neighbourhoods in September. Officials in the city noted that no encounters have been reported since then. Also read: Climate change could wipe out polar bears by 2100: Report In Japan, bear sightings are currently at a five-year high, mostly in rural areas of north and west Japan, as national broadcaster NHK had reported. Bears have been involved in over a dozen attacks on human, two of which were fatal. This triggered the government to step-up efforts to tackle the attacks. The government convened an emergency meeting last month to address the threat of bears. The 'Monster Wolf' robot consists of a body-like shaggy on four legs, a blond mane and glowing-red eyes. Once its motion detectors are activated, it moves its head, flashes different lights, and emits 60 different types of sounds that resemble wolfish howling. Since 2018, machinery maker Ohta Seiki has sold about 70 units of the robot. Also read: Climate change and human encroachment increasing cannibalism among polar bears The robot is based on Japanese wolves that roamed central and northern islands of Japan before they were hunted to extinction more than a century ago. According to Takikawa city officials, bears become more active and dangerous while searching for food before they go into hibernation in late November.

Japan: Town deploys 'Monster Wolf' robots to scare off wild bears

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Flashing eyes, loud howls: Japan’s ‘Monster Wolf’ robots see boom in orders as bear attacks rise

Japan is relying on a 'Monster Wolf' to scare away wild predators from populated areas

Japan: Town deploys 'Monster Wolf' robots to scare off wild bears