A woman who was found unconscious in the mountains of northern Japan has died. The cause may be a bear attack.

Police say 69-year-old Kumagai Chiyoko in Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture, went missing after she went to a mountain forest to pick edible wild plants on Wednesday.

Police and rescuers launched a search on Thursday morning in the forest where her car was found parked. They found the woman lying on the ground shortly after 8 a.m.

The woman reportedly had injuries on her face and head that appeared to have been caused by an animal's claws. Police are looking into the possibility of a bear attack.

City officials say local hunters are expected to begin patrolling the area on Friday morning.