Tokyo —

When Japanese soldiers arrived in the northern prefecture of Akita on Thursday, they prepared to face a new kind of threat – one with fuzzy ears and up to 220 pounds of mass.

This mountainous region is known for its lush forests, lakes and valleys – and for being a hotspot for this year’s deadly bear attacks in Japan .

“The situation has already surpassed what the prefecture and municipalities can handle on their own, and exhaustion on the ground is reaching its limit,” said Akita Gov. Kenta Suzuki in an Instagram post last month.

Video Ad Feedback Calling in the troops: Japan deploys military to control uptick in bear attacks 1:59 • Source: CNN

Calling in the troops: Japan deploys military to control uptick in bear attacks 1:59

It’s a national problem, fueled by

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