As we reported the other day, “droppings believed to be from a bear” were found in Najio Sanso, and Nishinomiya City has released a follow-up update.
After experts examined the images, they said it was unlikely to be from a bear.
↑ The area around Najio Sanso where the droppings were found. The elevated road overhead is the Chugoku Expressway. (Photo taken by Nishitsu in the past)
目次
“Looks like bear droppings” → Experts say it’s unlikely
The droppings, which were thought to be from a bear, were found around Najio Sanso on June 15.
After that, Nishinomiya City provided the images to experts at the Wildlife Management Research Center, Hyogo for analysis.
Here are the results↓
We had determined them to be “droppings believed to be from a bear,” but after providing images to experts at the Wildlife Management Research Center, Hyogo for analysis, it was estimated that “they are unlikely to be from a bear.”
Quoted from About Asian Black Bears｜Nishinomiya City Website
So it now seems that those droppings probably weren’t from a bear.
By the way, real ones look like this↓
Quoted from Download – Wildlife Management Research Center, Hyogo
Their appearance varies quite a bit, so it’s the kind of thing where you really can’t tell at all whether it’s the real deal or not.
However, there are separate sighting reports
One thing to keep in mind is that the two sighting reports from around Najio Akasaka late at night on June 12 are separate from these droppings.
Those reports still remain as information suggesting it “may have been a bear.”
So “the droppings weren’t from a bear” does not mean “there are no bears in Nishinomiya.” It may not be time to feel completely at ease just yet.
名塩山荘のフン騒動、聞いてどう思った？
Incidentally, there have reportedly been no human injuries so far.
Here’s what bear traces look like
We just showed traces of bear droppings, but when bears are around, they can leave other signs like these too. The images below are quoted from the Wildlife Management Research Center, Hyogo
As you’d expect from a large bear, the traces are really big. If you look closely, bear shelves are pretty strange too.
Ogawa, the hunter we introduced last time, also said that if there are bears in a mountain, they leave specific traces, and that on Mt. Rokko, as far as he has seen, there do not appear to be signs like these. However, he has not checked every last corner, so he can’t say there are definitely no bears.
Continue to be careful around the mountain edges
Nishinomiya City’s Agricultural Policy Division is continuing to urge caution.
- Bears are active from evening to early morning and may appear around residential areas
- When entering the mountains, carry something that makes noise, such as a bell or radio
- If you see one, do not approach it and report it immediately
If you see one, contact Nishinomiya City’s Agricultural Policy Division at 0798-34-8481. Updates are also being posted on the city’s website as needed.
Finally
For those living around Najio, Ikuno Kogen, Sakuradai, and Najio Sanso, this may offer a little bit of reassurance. However, the sighting reports themselves still remain, so please continue to be careful around the mountain edges from evening through morning. If any of you see one, do not approach it and report it.
