Bear sightings in Japan have ballooned in recent weeks, with the number of attacks by the animal and deaths reaching record highs.

A bear roamed around a hotel parking lot and lodging facilities in the Iizaka hot springs resort in Fukushima Prefecture for around 10 hours from Monday evening ¡ª causing business to grind to a halt ¡ª before it disappeared early Tuesday, according to media reports.

While no injuries were reported, local residents have been advised to avoid going out unless necessary.

Also on Monday, an elderly couple was attacked and injured by a bear while taking a walk in the town of Minakami, Gunma Prefecture.

Over the weekend, at least two separate bear attacks that led to injuries were reported ¡ª one in Iwate Prefecture and another in Niigata Prefecture.

In September alone, a total of 39 people sustained injuries from bear attacks, the highest number for that month in the past 10 years.

Bears are known to scrounge for food before they hibernate, so attacks tend to spike during the fall. In previous years, the highest number of bear attacks were seen in October.

So far, there have been six deaths caused by bear attacks in the current fiscal year that started in April, matching a record high in fiscal 2023, according to the Environment Ministry.

Earlier this month, a woman in her 70s in Miyagi Prefecture was killed by a bear while she out was picking mushrooms in the forest. Another woman who was with her is still missing, with police continuing to search for her.

The Environment Ministry is still investigating other deaths suspected to have resulted from bear attacks, which could push the number of fatalities to a new record this year.

Most recently, a man in his 70s was found dead in a forest in Iwate Prefecture last week with bear-like scratch marks on his body. He was out harvesting mushrooms in the forest.

Earlier this month, a 78-year-old man who was foraging mushrooms in Oshika, Nagano Prefecture, was found dead in the woods. Based on the scratches on his face and neck, police suspect the man might have been attacked by a bear, according to media reports.