You can see bear warning sign boards at the entrance of the maintained walks, in the forests of Sapporo. They are here to inform walkers about the date and time of the recent dung and bear sightings. Sometimes, they forbid the access to a path. That information is published on the web sites of Sapporo and its wards. Indeed, a lot of bears live in the mountains of the City.

　We can hardly know how many bears live in Sapporo. Indeed, since the mountains of Sapporo are connected to the ones of Shikotsu Toya National Park, Niseko and Shakotan Peninsula, bears can move easily from one place to the other. Hokkaido University Environmental Science Research Center classified the region of Shakotan - Eniwa as one of the brown bear living areas, and studied its population. According to the results of the 8 year research carried out since 1991, the center estimates that between 111 and 189 bears live in the area.　

　The presence of bears in mountains is a proof that forests are well protected. The manager of the center’s wild animal section, Tsutomu Mano, says that “bears can not live in a destroyed environment where they can not find food”.

　There used to be lots of brown bears in North America too. They have been hunted during the Wild West era that started in the middle of 19th century, so that 99% has been exterminated. The development of Hokkaido happened roughly at the same period but 7,000 bears still live in the island today.

　"Since there are lots of conifers that have no fruits in North America, bears have to move in a area of 100 square km, to find food. On the other hand, Hokkaido’s forests are rich, there are edible wild plants in spring, butterburs, dropwort, nettles in summer, fruits and mushrooms in fall" explains Mr. Mano. According to a survey on the moves of bears in the South West area of Hokkaido that includes Sapporo, males move within a circle of a radius of 10-20 km, while females moves within a circle of a radius of 3-5 km.

　Because of their extermination by humans, it was thought in the 1950s - 1970s, that there were no bears in the mountains surrounding Sapporo. It was the time of high economic growth, the time of the development of Sapporo that would welcome the Winter Olympic Games. It was thought that they temporarily fled away to another place but, according to Mr. Mano, "people, by getting aware of bears, they became aware of the environment. Wondering how to live with bears is even a part of their culture".

　A native, an Ainu ekashi (elder) said that "nature is the initial investment of a bank; its blessings are the interests. The higher is the investment, the higher are the interests. If we destroy nature, there will be no more blessings. Because Ainu are a people of hunters, they consider nature as a kamui (god). That is why bears are divinities too. Ainu call bears kimun-kamui, which means god that live in mountains".

(June 2003, trld. July 2008)

Brown bear eating wild grapes.
Credit: Noboribetsu Bear Park

Nature walk and waterfalls
　Information about hiking courses, and routes for nature observation or forest walking, located within one hour's drive from Sapporo.

A city with a national park
　 Shikotsuko Toya National Park occupies one quarter of Sapporo City area.

Campsites inside Sapporo
　Presentation of camp and auto camp sites located inside Sapporo.