Police in Japan believe an elderly woman, who was found dead on the grounds of a house in Toyama City near the Sea of Japan, was attacked by a bear.

The police received a call from a resident on Tuesday night. He said his wife had been missing since late in the afternoon.

The police found a woman, who is believed to be in her 70s, lying face down with cuts on her head and face.

She was pronounced dead at the scene. The police think the victim is the wife of the resident.

The police believe that the woman was mauled by a bear because of the injuries on her body. The authorities also say that bears were reportedly seen in the vicinity a few hours before the body was found.

Toyama City officials say paw prints that may have been made by an adult bear were found on the grounds. But they say that there was no trace of the animal itself.

The police and members of a hunting association will patrol the area. They will urge nearby residents, including schoolchildren, to be careful.

The area is located in the suburbs of Toyama City. Houses there are scattered among rice fields.

Toyama prefectural officials say 297 bear sightings were reported in the prefecture this year, as of Tuesday. That is 1.3 times more than the 221 reports they received last year.

Figures compiled by NHK show that three people have been attacked and injured by bears this year.