Change in the habitat of sika deer (Cirvus nippon) in the vicinity of Mt. Hiko in Fukuoka Prefecture

Abstract

We analyized the change in habitat of the sika deer (Cervus nippon) around Mt. Hiko in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. In 1999 and 2004, Fukuoka Prefecture conducted sika deer population survey in areas surrounding Mt Hiko. Based on this sika deer population survey, we constructed a potential map of sika deer habitat surrounding Mt. Hiko in Fukuoka Prefecture, and overlaid the developed maps with Geographic Information System (GIS). Our analysis showed that the habitat of sika deer over this 5 year period might be expanded recently in the study area.