A Japanese company came up with a unique solution to the rising number in bear attacks.
Japan is widely known for its innovation and modern technology, but its newest method of scaring away bears is not what you would expect…
@nbcnews Would this "monster wolf" scare you off?! : OHTA SEIKI
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“Monster-Wolves” VS Bears
The “Monster-Wolves” were originally meant to protect agricultural land from deer and boars. However, due to an increase in bear attacks, they have taken on a new role.
From 2025 to 2026, 50,000 bear sightings were recorded. As reported, they even tried to enter homes or schools. Thirteen people were killed by bears in Japan in 2025, so the robot wolves seem like a good solution to prevent further damage.
Ohta Seiki, the Hokkaido-based company behind the wolves, has already received 50 orders this year, an unusually high number.
The animatronics resemble creatures from an older horror movie: With their red eyes, fur and sharp teeth, deer aren't the only thing they scare. They can play around 50 different sounds – some human, some inhumane – and swing their heads from left to right.
The “Monster-Wolves” are rather expensive – $4000 for one of these unique electronic creatures.
High Demand For Robot Wolves
The high price does not reduce the demand, and the company cannot produce them quickly enough. Most customers are farmers or other people who work outside in rural areas. The president of Ohta Seiki, Yuji Ohta, asks customers to wait at least two or three months. He mentions that they are produced completely by hand as the reason why they take so long.
The company has already planned an update to its robot monsters: adding wheels so the electronic animals can chase predators away or patrol specific paths. They are even developing a handheld version for hikers and schoolchildren.
They have also experimented with AI cameras to add to future versions of the "Monster-Wolf."
