Chiba’s deer problem
What is a キョン?
English: Reeve’s Muntjac
Why are they a problem in Chiba and Ibaraki?
What do they eat?
How big are they?
Originally from China, Reeve’s Muntjac are in invasive species in Japan.
There are an estimated 86,000 wild Muntjac in Chiba. Recently they have crossed bridges to enter Ibaraki.
They are as big as a medium sized dog
They eat flowers, leaves, fruits and crops from farms. They can jump up to 80 cm so fences must be at least that high.
invasive species = animals from outside the country that damage the local eco-system. 外来種 = がいらいしゅ
estimate (formal) = guess
crops = food grown on farms (rice, cabbage, potatoes)
Chiba and Ibraki want to kill all of the small deer. What should they do?
Chiba and Ibraki want to kill all of these and they offer people cash rewards if you capture one or kill them.
capture = catch or trap something (criminal, animal)
Chiba: ¥6000 per catch or kill
Ibaraki: ¥30,000 for a capture or kill. ¥2000 yen for taking pictures with locations of the deer.
Chiba also pays to market deer meat as a luxury meat to the public.
When my son saw this story in the news, he asked: “Can we drive to Ibraki to catch the deer?” He wants the 30,000 yen.
I thought: “Oh. That sounds like fun!” … I was wrong.
Can anyone capture or kill the deer?
No. Anyone can get ¥2000 for photos.
To capture or kill the deer you must get a hunting license.
Pay ¥5000 for the course
Pass a written and practical exam
Pay around ¥15,000 to register your hunting plan in a prefecture
How can people catch the deer?
The government recommends snares or box traps. You can buy snares on Amazon (6 for ¥25,000)
What should I do after I catch the deer?
After you catch the deer, you must kill it at the place you caught it and get rid of the body.
It’s illegal to move invasive species (外来種 ) to other areas in Japan.
I have broken this law before. What invasive species did I move?
My kids have caught American Crayfish
(ザリガニ) in rivers before and brought them home to keep as pets.
Actually, it’s legal to keep them as pets and give them to friends. It’s illegal to release them into rivers or ponds after you catch them. You must kill them or keep them.