Objectives and Methods : This study was made in Maoi Hills and Nopporo Hills on the outskirts of Sapporo, Hokkaido, to survey the population of feral raccoons (Procyon lotor) and to clarify their habitat. Between early July and late October, 2000, live traps were set in 9 locations within the two regions. The traps were set at 400-500-meter intervals for 21 consecutive nights in each location. This population estimate was bassed on the removal method. Population : Altogether, 237 raccoons were caught, including 153 adults (40 male, 113 female) and 84 young (48 male, 36 female). In Maoi Hills, the catch ranged from 35-45 animals in the north to 9-18 in the south. In Nopporo Hills, where control campaigns had been carried out the year before, 28 raccoons were caught in the north and 12 in the south. The total raccoon population throughout the regions was estimated at 243, closely approximating the actual number of animals captured. This estimate takes into account the raccoons that were culled. In each of the various areas, the estimated population and the actual number of animals caught were comparable, differing consistently by only 1 or 2 animals. Population density per 100 ha was estimated according to the catch and calculated for the 200-m zone surrounding the traps and for the 400-m zone surrounding the traps. In Maoi Hills, high-density areas had 4 raccoons in the 200-m zone and 3 in the 400-m zone. In Nopporo Hills, low-density areas had 3 to 0.5 raccoons in the 200-m zone and 2 to 0.5 in the 400-m zone. Habitat : The raccoon habitats were analyzed by the quantification II method. The outside variables were divided into 3 classes, namely 0 (zero), 1, and 2-or-greater, representing the number of raccoons. The general environmental factors considered were land use, forest type, vegetation type, vegetation density, water availability, and the distance from cattle sheds or houses. Land size, water, and distance from the cattle shed were shown to have the greatest effects on the presence of raccoons and on their population. The specific environmental factors that scored high were the presence of a forest next to the rice field, fields, wastelands, gardens, ponds, and a distance of 100 m or less from the cattle shed. Conclusion : These results suggest that the most suitable sites for trapping feral raccoons are places that lie within 100 meters of a cattle shed and those near the pond in a rice field.

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The first incident involved a lone, two-year-old bear in play. The victim attempted to escape from the bear by climbing a tree. The bear followed the victim up a tree. The man was able to beat off the bear by hitting it in the face with a branch. The second incident involved an attack from a bear that was protecting its young from an approaching person. The attack was successfully fended off when the victim retaliated with sickle and hand saw. The third and fourth incidents involved retaliatory attacks by bears which were shot by hunters. The third victim is in critical condition. The fourth victim died. In both cases the bear was acting in retaliation of being attacked.

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Faunal survey of bats was carried out in the summers (July, August and September) of 1999 and 2000, in Kitafushiko (42°52'N, 143°8'E), Memuro-cho, central Hokkaido. Six species of bats were collected : Myotis daubentonii, M. ikonnikovi, M. frater, Eptesicus nilssonii, Nyctalus aviator and Vespertilio superans. Among these species, four species seemed to breed in this area, as suggested by the capture of pregnant or lactating females (M. daubentonii, M. frater and E. nilssonii) and/or the capture of yearlings (M. daubentonii, M. frater and N. aviator).

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An effective way to confirm the presence of Pteromys volans is to examine food scraps, feces, nests, marks on vegetation and tracks. The most effective way to confirm the presence is to examine Abies sachaliensis, Pinus strobus, Picea jezoensis, P.glehnii, Larix leptolepis, Pinus densiflora, Piciea abies, Phellodendron amurense and the other broad leafed trees, particularly in snowbound areas, for signs of feeding. An effective method of research is to examine for traces in areas where there are tree trunks in excess of 20cm wide, used for feeding and tree trunks in excess of 30cm wide where nests are located. Owing to the introduction of non-native trees such as Pinus strobus, Larix leptolepis, Pinus densiflora and Picea abies, the food sources of Pteromys volans has increased.

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Results of investigations conducted in 1999 and 2000 suggest that 20,000 pairs of Leach's Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) are breeding on Kenbokki Island in eastern Hokkaido. As an important breeding ground for Oceanodroma leucorhoa, Kenbokki Island is currently believed to be second only to Daikoku Island.

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In May 2000 at Mt Moiwa in Hokkaido, the mandible of the very rare Crocidula dsinezumi was extracted from the pellets of Strix uralensis. Although this is the second case evidencing Crocidula dsinezumi at Mt. Moiwa, it is the first case in Hokkaido where there was evidence of its being preyed upon.

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1. On average, 3 to 7 trees per 500m^2 (5 m×100) were found to be stripped by foraging, and as many as 15 to 24 in high-density foraging. Generally, the number of trees foraged was in proportion to the density of the forest, that is, the total number of trees standing. 2. The most predominant sign of foraging was bark removal, and second, the bird's pecking on the tree without severely stripping the bark. In barkstripping, elongated patches were exposed along the trunk and branches, leaving scars up to 8 cm wide and 200cm long. 3. The trees most frequently stripped by foraging were oaks, first the Quercus dentate, and second, the Q. crispula. Few Betula platyphylla (birch) or Phellodendron amurense (cork) trees were stripped. The number of trees stripped by foraging was in ratio to the kinds of trees standing in the forest. 4. Among the Q. dentate trees most frequently stripped, the diameter of the tree at chest height of the observer (diameter at breast height, or D. B. H.) was 3 to 5 cm, and that of Q. crispula was 2 to 4cm. The greater the diameter, or girth, of the trunk, the lower the frequency of bark-stripping. 5. In bark-stripping where long scars remained, the greater the D. B. H., the higher from the ground was the stripped area on the trunk. In ring-like stripping, the trees of large girth (long D. B. H) were most susceptible to foraging along their narrow branches, whereas the trees of narrow girth (short D. B. H) were foraged on the trunk as well as the branches.

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