Current situation and problems of miscaptured Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus) by snare traps in Komoro city, Nagano prefecture, Japan

Abstract

This paper reports on the status of the permitted animal capture system in Komoro city, Nagano prefecture, and the current status of Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) miscapture that occurs as a consequence of permitted capturing activities. In Komoro city, permitted capture work that had been carried out by hunting associations has been taken over by government administration, and administrative staff have begun releasing miscaptured Japanese serows. This change made it possible to clarify the circumstances of such miscapture, which were not well understood. After beginning to identify individual miscaptured Japanese serows with ear tags from April 2016, it was found out that 68 individuals had been miscaptured in 44 months (170 times in total). One was dead when it was found, and two died the day after release from complications of being trapped. 35 individuals were miscaptured several times, up to 14 miscaptures for the most-recaptured individual. Since many individuals were injured by traps, it is necessary to find capture methods that do not cause miscapture, to construct capturing systems under which miscaptured individuals can be released soon, and to establish and disseminate safe release methods that do not cause injury to both the releasing staff and Japanese serows. In addition, further study of miscapture of Japanese serows is required.