[in Japanese]

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Camera traps were employed as a survey method to examine the usage of the Japanese water shrew Chimarrogale platycephalus latrine sites in Kikuchi Valley, Kumamoto Prefecture. Water shrew appeared at night, and their ac-tivity period corresponded to seasonal changes in daylight duration. 　 　Furthermore, the occurrence pattern was not uniform, with two instances of decreased occurrence observed. Although this result indicates nocturnal behavior for latrine site visits, it also shows that they possess a polyphasic activity pattern. 　Water shrew that appeared at the latrine sites quickly finished defecating and swiftly moved into the water. Frequent sniffing behavior around the feces and their surroundings was also observed. We could identify three water shrew individ-uals appearing at the latrine sites based on ex-ternal morphological characteristics. Analysis of the behavior of two individuals observed over an extended period indicated the existence of in-ter-individual communication mediated by scent. Furthermore, it was inferred that there are in-dividual differences in fixation on scent.

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[in Japanese]

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1　A female Frosted Myotis, Myotis pruinosus, was incidentally captured by a sticky trap at an altitude of 41 m above the Shiibadani River in Sagara Village， Kumamoto Prefecture on August 5, 2024. This forest-dwelling bat is an endemic species to Japan, and the present finding represents the first record of the species in the area. 2　Another female of the same species was incidentally captured by the same method at 32 m above the same site on 5 August 2025. 3　Both individuals were identified as juveniles and had recently been weaned, suggesting the presence of maternity roost(s) in the vicinity of the capture location. 4　This is the first record of the species flying at an altitude exceeding 40 m above ground level. 5　This record not only contributes to knowledge of the species' distribution but also provides new insights into its vertical space use.

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1 This study summarizes information on individuals, capture sites, habitat environments, and ultrasonic calls of Endo’s pipistrelle (Pipistrellus endoi) recorded in Kumamoto Prefecture over the past five years (2021–2025). 2 A total of 10 individuals were captured across a broad area of the Kyushu Central Mountain Range in Kumamoto Prefecture. Of these, seven were male and three were female. One female showed lactation scars, indicating that breeding occurs in Kyushu. 3 Capture sites ranged in elevation from 439m to 1,318m, demonstrating a wide vertical distribution. Bats were found along forest roads, at forest edge, within forest interior, and over rivers, suggesting that the species utilizes diverse habitats. Within a 2 km radius of the capture sites, the vegetation classification showed that planted forests accounted for a relatively high proportion (29–61%), while evergreen broad-leaved forests (including secondary forests), deciduous broad-leaved forests (including secondary forests), cool-temperate coniferous forests and evergreen coniferous secondary forests comprised the remainder. 4 The averaged peak frequency of Endo’s pipistrelle was 44.9 kHz for scanning echolocation calls at capture and 43.9 kHz at release, while search-phase echolocation calls averaged 39.1 kHz. Although the peak frequency of scanning calls partially overlapped with that of the Japanese pipistrelle (P. abramus), the search-phase calls did not. This suggests that when the peak frequency of search-phase calls is 41 kHz or lower, the species can be identified as Endo’s pipistrelle.

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1　A preliminary survey for the Japanese water shrew (Chimarrogale platycephalus) was conducted in autumn 2025 along the Samukawa River, which flows through Kugino, Minamata City, southern Kumamoto Prefecture, using a sign (feces) survey method. 2　Distinctive feces of the Japanese water shrew were found on rocks above the water surface at 10 sites, with altitudes ranging from 254 m to 330 m. 3　These results, together with findings from previous studies, suggest that the Japanese water shrew frequently inhabits lowland rivers below 500 m in elevation in Kyushu. This finding provides important implications for the future conservation of the Kyushu population of this species.

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　When the distribution range of female sika deer (Cervus nippon) expands, there is a risk of rapid population growth in those areas. We report the first observation of female sika deer near Mt. Tatsuda-yama in Kumamoto City. On December 20, 2024, a group consisting of two adult males, a mother with a juvenile male, and a mother with a juvenile female were observed in the grassland along the Shirakawa River. Given that Mt. Tatsuda-yama is only about 300 meters away, there is concern that female deer may encroach onto the mountain.

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　This paper summarizes the records of a control program targeting an invasive Pallas's squirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus) population on the Uto Peninsula, Kumamoto Prefecture. First confirmed in 2008, the population temporarily expanded to several thousand individuals but was brought to the verge of eradication by 2025. A wide range of stakeholders, including government agencies, researchers, local hunter association, and high school students, participated in surveys and population control operations. By establishing an organizational framework centered on a liaison council, effective trapping efforts and public awareness campaigns were sustained. Control strategies evolved in response to population decline: shifting from mass trapping via an initial bounty system to targeted capture by specialized municipal trappers as density decreased, and finally to the detection of remnant individuals using bait surveys. Recommendations from the Mammal Society of Japan, media coverage, and inquiries in local assemblies raised community awareness. These factors facilitated the securing of administrative budgets and the strengthening of control measures.

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