3 bears are captured after sneaking into a tatami factory as northern Japan faces a growing problem

By MARI YAMAGUCHI
Assocaited Press

TOKYO (AP) — Three bears that snuck into a tatami mat factory and were holed up inside for nearly a day have been captured. Authorities in the town of Misato in the northern prefecture of Akita said the bears were captured in a cage and killed. The region is dealing with a growing number of reported bear attacks in or near residential areas. A town official had spotted the adult bear and two cubs walking into a tatami mat factory on Wednesday morning in Misato. Experts say bears come down from nearby forests, looking for food due to an acorn scarcity.