Japanese black bears (tsukinowaguma) are being blamed for causing damage to 3,000 apples at an orchard in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture. The damage amounts to around 160,000 yen, and may have been caused by one or numerous bears.

A member of the orchard owner’s family said “we were shocked by the serious damage to the fruit we so carefully grew, and we feel uneasy since people say the bear is likely to return once it has tasted the apples.”

This is the latest in a line of apple attacks. Due to last year’s rich nut crop, the population of bears has increased, which means a lack of food in the mountains and the need for the bears to look harder for food. One of the bears involved when asked the question “how do you like them apples?” replied “very nice, thanks.”

Via Daily Yomiuri.

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