Asiatic black bears in Omachi City, Nagano, captured in 2014 and their dependence on human-origin food
2016
Nakashita, R. (Forestry and Forest Product Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki (Japan)) | Hashimoto, M. | Kishimoto, R. | Takii, A. | Suzuki, Y. | Hayashi, H. | Izumiyama, S.
In Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture, a mass intrusion of Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) occurred in 2014. After September, in particular, a high incidence of bears were reported across the city, and the number of human injuries, on encounter with bears, summed up to be as high as 7 cases. In this study, we marshaled the captured bear data in Omachi obtained by Nagano Prefectural Office in 2014. Hair samples were also analyzed for carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios to examine the degree of dependence of bears on human-origin food, and to look into the relevance of captured sites and damages. The analysis revealed that many bears were captured in submontane area along the Takase and Kashima rivers, and that some bears, which were captured in areas along the Kashima river, were heavily dependent on fish culture farms. Although, we need to compare this result with other data obtained in normal years without mass intrusion of bears, it is imperative to take strict measures such as removal of bear attractants in these areas, regardless of the extent of bear intrusion, to prevent further damages by bears.
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