The number of train collisions with wild animals in eastern Japan rose to a record high last year, prompting East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) to develop countermeasures, including the use of scents and sounds to deter animals.
According to JR East, 1,825 collisions with animals occurred in fiscal 2020, 80% higher than in fiscal 2017. Collisions with deer accounted for the majority of the cases. By species, deer were involved in 647 of 754 cases recorded by JR East's Morioka Branch Office in fiscal 2020, accounting for more than 80% of cases. Other victims include bears, rabbits and raccoon dogs.
When trains collide with animals, operations are usually suspended for several hours for the removal of the animal's carcass and the confirmation of the safety of the line. In a bid to limit such stoppages, JR East analyzes the habits of deer and tries out new countermeasures every year.
