- Japan recorded increase in fatal bear attacks along with tens of thousands of nationwide sightings
- Monster Wolf uses flashing lights and scary sounds to scare away aggressive wildlife
- Demand soared after bears wandered into homes, schools, supermarkets and tourist spots across the country
Japan is experiencing a record increase in bear attacks, with 13 human deaths reported in 2025 and more than 50,000 sightings reported nationwide.
Ohta Seiki, a Hokkaido-based robotics company, manufactures a terrifying animatronic wolf called the Monster Wolf, specially designed to repel these dangerous animals.
The company has already received about 50 orders this year, which is more than its usual annual production volume for this product.
Ohta overwhelmed by unexpected demand
“We can’t make them fast enough,” company president Yuji Ohta told me AFPand notes that customers now have to wait two to three months for delivery.
The robot wolf features faux fur draped over a tubular frame, topped with a menacing open-mouthed face and glowing red LED eyes.
It emits more than 50 kinds of recorded sounds, including human voices, electronic sounds and growls that can be heard up to a kilometer away.
The device turns its head from side to side while its tail emits blue LED lighting, creating a truly unsettling presence in the dark.
An infrared sensor detects wildlife and triggers the system to activate its full range of sounds and movements.
The robot is powered by a combination of a 12-volt car battery and an optional solar charging panel for extended remote control.
Why demand skyrocketed
Bears have been making their way into homes, roaming near schools, rampaging through supermarkets and terrorizing guests at hot spring resorts across Japan.
The number of bears caught and killed nearly tripled from the previous year, reaching a record high of 14,601.
Some northern regions reported more than four times as many bear sightings as last year when they came out of hibernation.
Ohta launched the Monster Wolf in 2016 to prevent crop damage from deer, boar and bears, but it was initially derided as a gimmick by many observers.
The company is now upgrading the device by putting it on wheels so that it can hunt animals or patrol certain trails independently.
The monster wolf looks like something out of a horror movie, but Japanese communities facing real bear attacks no longer laugh at the idea.
They’re buying every single unit Ohta Seiki can make, and the company simply can’t keep up with demand.
Ohta also plans to develop a handheld version for hikers, anglers and schoolchildren as they explore artificial intelligence cameras for future models.
The robot costs about $4,000 or more, depending on configuration, with wheels and solar panels offered as optional upgrades.
Farmers, golf course operators and construction workers working in rural areas make up the majority of current orders.
Whether the robot remains effective once bears have become accustomed to its sounds and flashing lights is still an open question, but so far it’s winning the battle.
Via Tom’s Hardware
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