Current Status of Wildlife Damage at Famous Sites

In recent years, wild birds and animals have frequently invaded human living areas, and wildlife damage has frequently occurred even in famous places.

There have been cases of contact with passers-by, cancellation of planned events, and damage to the landscape due to feeding damage. Specified alien species are also expanding their habitats, and they are beginning to be confirmed even in areas where humans do not enter.

Lake Biwa Canal Kyoto

Along the Lake Biwa Canal in Yamashina Ward, Kyoto City, rape blossoms and cherry blossoms are a spring tradition. The contrast between the rape blossoms and the cherry blossoms is widely known as a scenic spot where you can enjoy beautiful scenery, and in recent years the number of foreign tourists has been increasing.

Supporting this attraction is the Nanohana Volunteer Group made up of local residents. On both sides of the canal about 500 meters north of JR Yamashina Station, we have been growing rape blossoms every year for more than 20 years.

From next spring, sightseeing boats are also scheduled to operate in earnest. However, it has been plagued by animal damage for several years, and it is said that the damage is particularly serious this year. Traces and footprints of wild boar digging up the ground and deer eating seedlings have been found one after another since seeding, and it is feared that only 50 to 60% of the annual blooms may occur.

We have put up protective nets and sprayed repellents, but the damage has not subsided.

Kenrokuen Garden Ishikawa Designated as a Cultural Property

Kenrokuen is a Japanese garden located in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Along with Okayama City's Korakuen Garden and Mito City's Kairakuen Garden, it is one of Japan's three most famous gardens, and in 2009 was awarded the highest three-star rating in the Michelin Guide.

Kenrokuen has a different look depending on the season, but the illumination events that are held each season are especially popular, and many people visit because they can enjoy the magical scenery.

Around 7:00 pm on December 6th this year, Kenrokuen staff saw a wild boar, and the garden was closed during a light-up event, and tourists were evacuated. According to the Kanazawa Central Precinct, it seems that wild boars have also been sighted in the adjacent Kanazawa Castle Park, and they are calling attention to prevent accidents.

heian shrine kyoto

Kyoto Prefecture has many famous places, but there have been reports of animal damage at Heian Shrine. Heian Jingu is a shrine built in the Meiji period as a reconstruction project for the turmoil at the end of the Edo period and the relocation of the capital.

Heian Jingu Shrine has a large precincts compared to the number of worshipers, but in November of this year, a wild boar about 1 meter in length appeared and escaped. While fleeing, an accident occurred in which he collided with a man in his 50s who was working at a construction site on the west side of Heian Jingu Shrine. A man broke his left arm.

The wild boar continued to run west and finally jumped into the moat on the west side of Nijo Castle in Nakagyo Ward and drowned. In addition, in Kyoto City, there have been a series of sightings of wild boars at the foot of Higashiyama in the eastern part, where there are many temples popular with tourists, and there have been incidents of wild boars invading a high school in the city.

Shiretoko World Heritage Area Hokkaido

Shiretoko is the southernmost point where ice floes come ashore in the northern hemisphere. A unique ecosystem can be seen due to the correlation between the marine ecosystem and the terrestrial ecosystem, and the diversity of both northern and southern fauna and flora can be seen, making it a habitat and wintering place for rare species. Because of this, it was registered as a natural heritage site in 2005.

However, after collecting and confirming the camera installed last year for the investigation of Yezo deer, an animal with a striped tail was captured, and it was identified as a specific alien species, the raccoon. Since it has been confirmed that the habitat has expanded to the World Natural Heritage Area, there are concerns that the Shiretoko ecosystem may be threatened by the endangered Blakiston's fish owl.

Reference article: Raccoon ecology, countermeasures, and extermination

National Historic Site Isedotai Ruins Akita

The Isedotai Site is a site from the late Jomon period in Wakigami, Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture.

Last year, after environmental maintenance was completed, the Guidance Facility "Isedotai Jomon Museum" was newly opened. I was showing an explanatory video.

However, this year, due to a series of bear sightings around the Isedotai ruins, the public has been closed since June. The museum is scheduled to partially reopen from July 15, and the day before, while the staff was on patrol, a male staff member in his 50s was attacked by a bear and injured his forehead and hands.

Therefore, it was decided to extend the closure, and we are currently working on environmental improvements such as cutting trees around the ruins, aiming to open to the public in April 2018.

In order to overcome this situation

Sights are more difficult to implement pest control than other locations. While eliminating the possibility of personal injury as much as possible, it is necessary to take measures that understand the ecology and behavior of pests.

If a beast suddenly appears, don't force the capture. In addition, if danger arises during the capture work, stop the work immediately. If it is not possible to implement a capture, move to a chase response.

For example, in the case of wild boars, it is important to track them as close to the mountains as possible to identify their entry routes. Knowing the route of entry will increase the chances of catching wild boars that have escaped into the mountains.

Reference article: Wild boar measures - what should I do? [Urban edition]