Ep. 63: The Killer Bear of Sankebetsu

Bears are scary. Big teeth, sharp claws and a smelly disposition make for bad company. But not all bears are out to get you - sometimes you just get in their way! And then there’s the predatory bears, the kind who watch you from the shadows and stalk your every move. Like Kesagake, the legendary Ussuri brown bear who brutally murdered eight Japanese women and children in 1915.

This horrifying story is fit for the big screen with a gunslinging alcoholic bear hunter who seeks revenge against his old furry nemesis after families are torn apart by Kesagake’s sharp claws. Tonight, we’ll uncover the mistakes made in the small village along the Sankebetsu River and follow the snowy trail of the most notorious Ussuri bear to stalk the forests of Hokkaido.

We’ll dig into the differences between brown and black bears, discuss what to do if you happen to come face to face with one and learn from Elise’s close encounters with Grizzlies in Alaska. This episode is not for the faint of heart. Grab your wine and your bear spray because this one’s a doozy. Happy haunting!