Encountering Wildlife in Hokkaido
北海道で幼い野生動物に出会いました！
キタキツネの幼い個体です。
お母さんと兄弟は反対側の少し離れたところにいましたが、カメラを構えたら離れていきます。
北海道は自然が至る所にあるけれど、野生動物にエサを与える観光客が大問題になっていることを紹介したい。
I encountered a young wild animal in Hokkaido.
This is a juvenile red fox, a species native to the region.
The fox’s mother and siblings were nearby, on the opposite side of the road at a short distance.
However, as soon as I raised my camera, they quietly moved away.
Hokkaido is a place where nature exists everywhere, and encounters with wildlife can happen unexpectedly.
At the same time, there is a serious problem caused by tourists who feed wild animals.
Feeding wildlife may seem harmless, but it disrupts their natural behavior, increases the risk of traffic accidents, and can ultimately threaten their survival.
To truly respect and protect Hokkaido’s wildlife, it is essential to observe animals from a distance and never offer them food.
私がまだ若い３０年くらい前は、エゾシカなど野生動物は人里の近くにはいなかったが、いまでは人間がこのレベルの近くにいても警戒すらしない。
もっと凶暴なヒグマが大都市の市街地まで出没していて大問題になった今年だが、解決策さえ見えない・・・
１００年以上前になるのか？ 明治時代にに北海道に棲むエゾオオカミを絶滅したことがあったそうで、いまになってエゾシカが大繁殖と同じく、こちらは異常気象による食べ物の影響もあったかもしれないが、なんだか人間が壊した環境を動物たちが警告していると思う。
写真は くろすけ撮影
About thirty years ago, when I was much younger, wild animals such as Ezo deer rarely appeared near human settlements.
Today, however, wildlife no longer seems to fear humans, even at very close distances.
This year, the situation became even more serious as brown bears (Higuma) began appearing in urban areas of major cities, causing widespread concern.
Yet, no clear solution has emerged.
More than a hundred years ago, during the Meiji era, the Ezo wolf, which once inhabited Hokkaido, was driven to extinction by human actions.
Now, we are facing the opposite problem: an overpopulation of Ezo deer.
This may also be influenced by abnormal weather patterns that affect food availability.
Looking at these changes, it feels as though wildlife is sending a warning—
a response to the environment that humans have damaged over time.
Photograph by Kurosuke.
