Visitor Center Report

Quietly, I watched a Sciurus vulgaris orientis eating a walnut. It seemed to be enjoying it very much.
First the squirrel found the walnut and then took it to a safe place (left photo). Then it gnawed on the walnut with a “gaji-gaji” sound along the line to break it in two from the center (center photo).
When the walnut cracked after a few minutes, the squirrel held it so it wouldn’t fall and ate one side at a time (right photo).
However, when a walnut cracks open completely, one half usually falls to the ground. Thus, after eating one half, the squirrel must go down to retrieve it and begin the process again from the step shown in the left-hand photo.
Yet these squirrels are smart. Sometimes they don’t open the walnut open all the way, but only apply enough pressure to crack it (in this case, the cracked side does stays attached to the bottom of the walnut). This way they can eat both sides together.
The squirrel I was watching scampered off into the forest the moment it finished eating.
Photos: A feeding Sciurus vulgaris orientis in Sounkyo Apr. 30

One of the photos shows the view of the Daisetsuzan peaks as seen from Kamikawa Park in Kamikawa Town.
The temperature has been climbing these past few days and the mountains’ rocky slopes have become visible.
However, at Mt. Kurodake’s 7th Station, the snow is still 430 cm deep.
The snow is melting rapidly, but there is still so much of it.
Last year, snow fell through the Golden Week holidays even in the flatlands. However, this year is different, as the rise in temperature has been remarkable.
Undoubtedly some people are planning to enter the mountains during the holidays. I do hope they will take extra precautions against avalanches.
In the flatlands, however, conditions are becoming more spring-like all the time.
The other photo shows the great degree to which populations of blooming Corydalis fumariifolia subsp. azurea have grown.
Photos: The Daisetsuzan peaks (left) and Corydalis fumariifolia subsp. azurea (right) photographed in Kamikawa Town Apr. 29

I recently encountered yet another Vulpes vulpes schrencki.
Usually when we meet, the fox bolts off. But, surprisingly, this one came trotting toward me.
The encounter happened while I was in a car. The fox came up and sat right in front of me. I opened the window and took a photo. And as soon as I did the fox came right up to my window.
Foxes are not like monkeys, so I did not expect it to attack me. Still, I did feel a slight bit of fear.
I closed the window and drove away, but the fox followed. “Hmm… This is a fox that is accustomed to people,” I thought.
Judging from its appearance, I guessed that it was still a juvenile and had probably just separated from its parent last year. Obviously it could not capture prey on its own and had become used to being fed by humans.
In a way, I wanted to say “Well done!” to it for managing to survive the severe winter, but then again…
Visitors, please; never feed the wildlife.
I should add that the fox had a bushy tail.
Photos: Vulpes vulpes schrencki at Sounkyo Apr. 29

Daisetsuzan National Park’s 80th anniversary “Stamp Rally” has begun.
People who visit the three designated visitor centers (the Higashitaisetsu Nature Center [Nukabira Onsen], Asahidake Visitor Center [Asahidake Onsen], and Sounkyo Visitor Center [Sounkyo Onsen]) plus the hot spring facilities in those locations and/or hot spring village facilities within Daisetsuzan National Park (locations are noted in the stamp booklet) can receive an original hand towel or enter a drawing for specialty products, an accommodations coupon, or a meal coupon.
We invite you to use this opportunity to visit the visitor centers and fully enjoy all that the national park has to offer.
The Stamp Rally will be held from April 26 to January 31, 2015.
Please ask a staff member for more information.
How you can win:
Example 1: Visit all three visitor centers + use two hot spring facilities: Receive an original hand towel
Example 2: Visit all three visitor centers + use four hot spring facilities: Enter a drawing for specialty products
Example 3: Visit all three visitor centers + use six hot spring facilities: Enter a drawing to receive an accommodations or meal coupon.
Photo: The Stamp Rally poster Apr. 26

The number of hours that a Sciurus vulgaris orientis is active during the day varies depending on the season.
The weather has become warmer recently, and the squirrels are now active throughout the day.
During the spring, the squirrels are generally active during the morning (after which they are in their nests), while in the summer, they are active from sunrise to sunset. Although it’s difficult to make promises when it comes to nature, it should be possible to see squirrels at any time of the day
from now on.
Photo: A Sciurus vulgaris orientis in Kamikawa Town Apr. 26