TJ
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- Oct 26, 2002
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- Location
- Tokyo
- Country
- United States
- Display Name
- Tim Johnson
While field herping for Cynops pyrrhogaster and Hynhobius lichenatus up in northern Japan recently, I and my Japanese companion were lucky enough to observe a Japanese black bear (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) emerge from a patch of forest and cross over the rice paddies:
We also happened across other evidence of bears, including tracks and a distinctive smell. Bears are fairly commonplace in the mountains, and human-bear encounters have been on the increase, what with diminishing habitats and all. Attacks are more likely when cubs are present. This last Sunday alone, four people were injured in separate bear attacks in two Japanese prefectures!
The local herpetologist I was with on this trip carried a set of bells loop to alert bears to our presence -- though I suppose their sense of smell is even better than their sense of hearing.
That reminds me -- while field herping for sals in the Monterey area a couple of months ago, there were paper signs posted all over warning of mountain lions. But I read today there have only been 15 mountain lion attacks on humans in California since 1890. I suppose it's more of a cause for concern for people walking their poodles than it is for herpers. All the same, don't forget your pepper spray
We also happened across other evidence of bears, including tracks and a distinctive smell. Bears are fairly commonplace in the mountains, and human-bear encounters have been on the increase, what with diminishing habitats and all. Attacks are more likely when cubs are present. This last Sunday alone, four people were injured in separate bear attacks in two Japanese prefectures!
The local herpetologist I was with on this trip carried a set of bells loop to alert bears to our presence -- though I suppose their sense of smell is even better than their sense of hearing.
That reminds me -- while field herping for sals in the Monterey area a couple of months ago, there were paper signs posted all over warning of mountain lions. But I read today there have only been 15 mountain lion attacks on humans in California since 1890. I suppose it's more of a cause for concern for people walking their poodles than it is for herpers. All the same, don't forget your pepper spray