The Japanese authorities have finally cornered the black bear that terrorised a suburban town for a week, but the real story here is the cost. Wildlife incursions into urban areas are an unhedged liability on the balance sheet of local governments. In this case, the bear was trapped after a series of raids on bins and gardens that sent property values in the affected neighbourhood into a tailspin.
UK zoologists, ever the pragmatists, have been consulted on containment protocols. Their advice: invest in bear-proof infrastructure now, or pay for a whole lot of expensive tranquiliser darts later. The market for urban wildlife management is booming, but it is a niche that demands fiscal prudence.
One wonders how many other hypothetical bears are lurking in the underperforming assets of municipal budgets.
