2024 Volume 64 Issue 2 Pages 185-193
To effectively manage sika deer (Cervus nippon), it is crucial to monitor their establishment and population dynamics in areas where their distribution has expanded. Despite the absence of sika deer in Sayama Hills since the Meiji period, several sightings were reported in 2022. Therefore, we compiled data on sightings, photographs, and conducted interviews and camera trapping to assess the presence of sika deer in Sayama Hills post-2019. A total of 19 sightings, ten photographs, and videos were obtained, primarily between June and November 2022. Notably, sightings with individual information revealed the presence of young males with one-point antlers or velvet, suggesting temporary habitation rather than establishment. While sika deer used to constitute a component of the native mammalian fauna in Sayama Hills, their presence in an urban-surrounded area may lead to conflicts, such as encroachment into residential areas. Thus, the establishment of management guidelines and continuous monitoring are imperative for mitigating potential conflicts and ensuring the conservation of sika deer in Sayama Hills.
