Chemical composition, energy content and in vitro dry matter digestibility of new leaves of three dwarf bamboo species were analysed in the Tanzawa Mountains. The three dwarf bamboo species were Pleioblastus chino, Sasamorpha borealis and Sasa hayatae. These species are almost exclusive winter food resources for sika deer because of their evergreen leaves. Protein content of newleaves of the three species ranged from 11.8% to 16.4% with the greatest content in Pleioblastus chino and the least one in the Sasamorpha borealis. The content of neutral and acid detergent fibers did not show large difference among the three species, but that of acid detergent lignin was higher in Sasamorpha borealis than in Pleioblastus chino. In vitro dry matter digestibility of Sasamorpha borealis was higher than that of Sasa hayataea, but these values were under 31.0% each. The gross energy of new leaves in this experiment ranged from 17.9kJ/g to 19.4kJ/g. These results indicate that the nutritive value of the three dwarf bamboo species in the Tanzawa mountains is insufficient for sika deer as a winter food resource because of their high content of neutral detergent fiber and low digestibility.

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In the Shiretoko peninsula, sika deer (Cervus nippon) population has increased rapidly since the 1970s, and has been damaging Shiretoko's unique ecosystem and the livelihoods of local people in various ways. Deer population in Shari municipality, which occupies the north-western half of the peninsula, has been managed through zoning. The Shiretoko deer management plan provides a management framework for the World Heritage Site and its buffer zone, and the Hokkaido deer management plan is the basis for deer management in the area outside the buffer zone. This paper analyzes the current status of deer issues and management systems in the three zones, and discusses the effectiveness of zoning for integrated deer management. The results show that deer population in the heritage site has been managed for ecosystem conservation within a scientific framework and through cooperation among relevant authorities. In the buffer zone, cooperation among authorities has addressed the mitigation of various issues involving deer, but consensus is yet to be built to solve these issues technically. Outside the buffer zone, neither a working management framework nor cooperation among authorities has been confirmed, and deer population and damages are beyond the management capabilities of the municipality. The Hokkaido prefecture plan needs to develop a cooperative framework to coordinate the management activities by the authorities.

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The questionnaire was sent to 21 users of mammalian pest repelling dogs in three regions in order to present a summary of the use of the dogs. The questions were categorized into the following groups: 1) information about the user, 2) damage caused by pests, 3) characteristics of the dogs, 4) method of utilizing the dogs 5) efficacy of the dogs, 6) users' impressions, and 7) problems associated with using the dogs. Shiba-inu was the most commonly used (50.0%). The dogs chased pests for an average distance of 306.6m (SD=215.3) and for an average time of 32.4 minutes (SD=42.2). The mean defendable distance of one dog was estimated at 494.4m (SD=255.4). This result indicated the possibility that if one dog is allocated about every 500m, it reduces the damage in the entire target area. Eighty-one percent of users answered that the dogs are more effective in repelling pests than the existing methods, such as fireworks and slingshots. Moreover, all the users desired to continue using the dogs.

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Because there was a case wherein students of an elementary school helped a newborn pup of a Kuril harbor seal (Phoca vitulina stejnegeri), we attempted to use this species for developing a comprehensive new study program for these students. We were concerned that conducting the learning program for all students, which focused only on seals, would restrict their wider interests. In addition, we needed to discuss the disadvantages with respect to many students observing wild animals, which may include the possibility of their getting injured during the observation process and the disturbances caused to the animals. Consequently, the program was carried out for one student. In our opinion, acquiring knowledge on local animals such as seals leads to the development of a local understanding. We found that a cooperative relationship between the teacher, field researcher, and landowner of the harbor seal observation point contributes effectively toward advancing environmental education. We expect that the comprehensive study using local wild animals will help in building a consensus among the local community to solve the conflict between wild animals and humans.

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In the summer of 2010, we planned to collect feces from the cavities made by the Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius in beech forest on Mt. Moriyoshi, Akita Prefecture. We found a group of Japanese Large Noctule Nyctalus aviator in a recently formed cavity and some eggs of the Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata in an older cavity located below the new cavity. The young ones of the Black Woodpecker fledged on July 3 and 4, and this is the latest record of this species from Honshu. We estimated that the breeding activity of the Black Woodpecker was delayed due to the extraordinary climatic conditions this year.

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