The Sankebetsu brown bear incident (三毛別羆事件, Sankebetsu higuma jiken), also known as the Rokusensawa bear attack (六線沢熊害事件, Rokusensawa yūgai jiken) or the Tomamae brown bear incident (苫前羆事件, Tomamae higuma jiken), was a series of bear attacks which took place 9-15 December 1915, at the beginning of the Taishō era, in a remote area of Hokkaido, Japan. Over the course of six snowy days, a male Ezo brown bear attacked a number of households, killing seven people and injuring a further three. The incident has been referred to as "the worst animal attack in Japanese history". The attacks ended when the hungry bear, so smart that it started to trick people, was shot dead.

For the uninitiated, the Sankebetsu Brown Bear Incident is the kind of nightmare scenario that feels like it belongs in some poorly written "Man vs. Nature" thriller—except it’s horrifyingly real. Back in December 1915, in a remote Hokkaido village called Rokusensawa, an enormous Ussuri brown bear (later nicknamed "Kesagake") descended upon humanity like nature’s most efficient killing machine. Over five days, it claimed seven lives, including women and children, leaving a trail of gore that would put most slasher movies to shame.

The Setup

The chaos began innocently enough: Kesagake woke from hibernation hungry and lumbered into town, where it raided a few corn stores. Naturally, the locals tried to shoo it off, even wounding it with a hunting party. Big mistake. The bear retreated, only to come back angrier, bigger, and evidently keeping receipts.

The Carnage

The bear’s first major attack was at the Ota family home. It burst in, killed a baby outright, and then dragged a woman into the forest to feast on her—a meal it didn’t even finish before returning for seconds. Over the next few days, it kept rampaging, targeting the Miyouke family house and methodically taking out anyone in its path, including a pregnant woman and several children. Think of it as Jason Voorhees with fur and claws, but less kill-and-leave, more "camp out in your village and make it my personal buffet."

The Climax

Finally, after days of terror and failed defense efforts by the villagers, a legendary hunter named Yamamoto Heikichi was called in. Dude went full "final boss" mode, tracked Kesagake to its hideout, and gunned it down. The bear measured nearly nine feet long and weighed 749 pounds, a colossal beast that had turned a small Hokkaido settlement into ground zero for one of Japan’s darkest animal encounters.

Legacy

Over a century later, the Sankebetsu Incident still stands as Japan’s deadliest bear attack and a sobering reminder of what happens when humans underestimate nature. The site has since been memorialized, complete with a recreation of the events for visitors who want to feel the existential dread of being on a predator’s menu.

If you ever feel like you’re having a bad day, just remember: at least you’re not trying to defend your family against a 750-pound killing machine with 1915-era weapons.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5642696&forum_id=2#48400105)

1. Target Selection and Persistence

After its initial forays into human territory, the bear seemed to understand where food could be found and returned to specific homes multiple times, even after encountering resistance. It attacked the Ota family home, retreated, and then reappeared, showing persistence and a methodical approach to finding sustenance.

2. Escaping Capture

When initially wounded by hunters, Kesagake escaped into the forest instead of continuing the confrontation. This survival-driven decision could be interpreted as strategic, ensuring it lived to fight another day.

3. Timing of Attacks

The bear attacked homes during times when it could catch its victims off guard, such as nighttime or when fewer people were present. This pattern suggests it recognized opportunities for low-risk predation, though this is likely instinctual rather than conscious planning.

4. Fearlessness in Returning to Villages

Despite the humans organizing hunting parties and guarding their homes, Kesagake continued its assaults. This resilience could indicate an understanding that it could outmatch its human adversaries or a lack of fear due to its physical dominance.

5. Selective Feeding Behavior

The bear dragged one victim into the forest to eat but did not consume the entire body, returning later for more. This suggests it was aware of the resources available and acted opportunistically to secure food.

Intelligence vs. Instinct

While Kesagake's actions may seem clever, they are better attributed to instinctual survival behaviors typical of predators. Bears, particularly Ussuri brown bears, are known to be highly adaptable and opportunistic, capable of learning from their environment and experiences. However, these traits are not unique to Kesagake and are more a testament to the species' ability to navigate and exploit its habitat.

In the context of the Sankebetsu incident, Kesagake was undeniably persistent, opportunistic, and powerful—traits that, combined with its size and ferocity, made it an especially dangerous adversary.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5642696&forum_id=2#48400131)