In the space on the 2nd floor of the Hotel North Building, an exhibition corner that is unique to the Bearman Branch Office will open! Surrounded by lush forests, the Sahoro area is home to not only the brown bears of Bear Mountain, but also a variety of wildlife. Brown bears, which stand at the top of the ecosystem in Hokkaido, are said to be the umbrella species of the forest, and we aim to create a space that will be of interest not only to brown bears but also to the animals that live in the forests that fall under their umbrella. In addition, early spring plants such as spring ephemerals (Ezoengosaku Katakuri) are quietly blooming in the North Building Square, so we recommend ♪ taking a walk on a sunny day (photo taken on April 29, 2008) Although it is a small exhibition corner, we will gradually enlarge it, so we hope that you will visit us when you stay at the hotel. GW Family Plan (4/28-5/5) 1 night 2 meals + Bear Mountain promenade course 1 room 2 to 4 people 1 person 10,500 yen - Web reservation

Today I went for a walk with a mountain bike for the first time ☆ The snow at the ski resort in the background has melted a lot! It's easier to run on grass than on concrete, so when you go up to the sidewalk, MTB seems to be difficult to run ( ̄ー + ̄) So, let's play a little prank. Signboard scissors attack ( ̄∇+ ̄)v I'm in a hurry (*^▽^*) Do you ♪ want to run exhilarating because you've played through it? Passing in front of the hotel ε======== He(^▽ ゚)ノ Uphill from the hotel to Bear Mountain, The mountains of the Hidaka Mountains spread out in the background, and it looks ♪ comfortable Sarah: I heard that a resort center will be built on Bear Mountain from this year. Moko: Wow, what's that? Sarah: At the activity counter, we will be hosting mountain bike rentals, four-wheeled buggies, nature crafts, soba noodle classes, rafting, horseback riding, and canoeing! Moko: Well, after observing the bears, you can enjoy a lot of activities. 　　　I'm not sure what to play with, wow - o(*^▽^*)o~n ♪ Sara & Moko

It's a continuation of yesterday's One ☆ Explore the area around Bear Point! It's a place where the smell of a large number of animals is quite dense... It looks like this from the outside. You can clearly see what's going on inside, so the bears can see the customers clearly ☆ Anyway, Sarah, look inside too much. I wonder if it's something that bothers me??? Take a commemorative photo in front of the cave. I compared it with the photo during business (−p ■) q ☆ Pasha Pasha ☆ Sarah: According to the story, the bears have their backs on the ceiling of the entrance. ゚)ノ Moko: It's really big... Sarah: What's more, this body runs at a speed of about 50 km/h, so even our furious dash may not be able to escape (>_<;) Moko: I have to make sure I don't run into them. Sarah & Moko

Today is a special walk ☆ What, I took ♪ a walk in the park of Bear Mountain Let's go to the course that can be reached at this time of year! Above that is the boardwalk course, and you can look for and observe bears from there. Huh? It's the first smell I've ever smelled before... I'm not sure, but for the time being, I???'m going to put my own scent on the marking. It seems that the staff at work is inspecting the promenade. I don't know all the people, so I wonder if it's a contractor. Then, I can't get stroked, so don't go near it, smell the smell that bothers me, it's a very stimulating walk, and I feel like an explorer dog who is not an explorer at all. Sarah & Moko

I went for a walk today to take a peek at work. What are they making? Red, yellow, green: Is it a traffic light? I was also in the tower that opened and closed the fence when the bus passed. I'm also changing tires. We were doing a lot of work in various places, but when they found us, they all stroked us ♪. This is also our job ☆ (Maybe it's interfering with the work?) Sarah & Moko

Hello, it's been a long time! We are steadily preparing for the opening on April 29th. I've been creating exhibits for the past two weeks. Recently, I tried to make something like this. What is this?? Please don't say that (laughs) This is a replica of the transmitter attached to the bear. The antenna in the park catches the radio waves of the transmitter and the position of the bear is displayed on the monitor! That's how it works. The black part is a tag that emits radio waves, but of course the one I wear around my neck is not real. The real thing is here! The tag part is sturdy so that it does not break even if the bear rubs its back or bathes. A bear with a good physique has a neck circumference of 100 cm! We are doing our best to make it in time for the opening, so I would be happy if you could keep an eye on the exhibits in each place after seeing the bears! [Breeding: Ito]

Today, I went on a work tour. I went for a walk ♪ to the entrance of the promenade to see how everyone was working, and I couldn't find anyone at the entrance (>_<;) Oh? There's a curb in the corner that separates the promenade course from the bus course. This was pulled to the corner to make it easier to remove snow. I see. It's the wisdom of people who live in a snowy country. It was beneficial, it was beneficial. So, by the time it opens, it has returned to the position of this curb and white line. Sarah & Moko

A variety of terms are used in Bear Mountain. You may also use it. In this article, we will introduce some of them. ・ Bangsen (number line): A wire with a number. 　　　　　　　　　　　　The smaller the number, the thicker it becomes, and the larger it is, the thinner it becomes. ・Cat: Unicycle. 　　　　　It doesn't jump or squeal. 　　　　　 ・ Handle: A tool to open the door of the animal house. 　　　　　　　 The muscles of the arms are trained. 　　　　　　　　 ・ Slowly: Close the door slowly ・ Solid: Close the door seriously! !! There are many different types of jobs, but there are many specialized terms depending on the type of job. If you are interested, it may be interesting to look into it. If you tell the zookeeper when you come to Bear Mountain, the zookeeper may be surprised, so please give it a try. 【Breeding Kurokawa】

The park is absolutely inaccessible during business hours. At this time of year, when the bears are not being released, they work during the day to prepare for the opening, so you can walk around the park in the flesh without getting in a car. Even if you know that there are no brown bears, it is kind of scary. By the way, when I was walking in front of Bare Point with the feeling of a brown bear, I found a brown bear's hair on a standing tree ( ̄ ー "+")! !! There was loose hair stuck in the skin of the tree. If you look closely, it looks like a blonde, doesn't it? And which bear? Even the breeding staff, who can be identified by the shape of the hind appearance and tail, cannot judge which individual is just by looking at the shedding hair (^^;;

The ski resort closed yesterday (4/5). This year, we have been blessed with snow since February, and there is still plenty of snow today when it is closed. However, the snow is melting around the Sahoro Resort Hotel, which is only about 700 meters away, and the ground of the park golf course is beginning to appear. "Fukinotou" began to emerge from the soil. When the cat willow swells and the butterbur becomes noticeable, you will feel [spring]. Now, the brown bears are steadily preparing for the opening on the 29th, and they are spending their time doing health checkups after winter and attaching GPS transmitters. The bears in their fourth year of Sahoro may be thinking, "I want to eat wild vegetables in spring as soon as possible" (!?) I can't.

The bears seem to have woken up from their winter sleep and their physical condition has gradually returned. Today, I put Santa, who woke up the first of the 18 animals, out in the sub-paddock (playground). Santa is very excited about the outside world for the first time in a long time! I was full of energy, running around in the snow and rubbing my back. It's hard to believe that I've been sleeping in the winter for about three months. 　Run, run!! 　I play with it crazy on the branches of the tree The hind legs that I saw a little bit are cute After Santa runs around ... [Breeding: Ito]

As mentioned in the recent Bear Mountain report, brown bears are slowly starting to wake up. From the awakened brown bear, we began to feed it in preparation for the upcoming active season. Brown bears have been fasting for about three months, so it seems that their internal organs are not working well immediately after waking up. Therefore, so that the internal organs do not freak out, at first they are given a small amount of pellets for bears soaked in hot water. After that, while watching the brown bear, gradually increase the amount and type of food. Food is put in using a shovel from the feeding port attached to the brown bears' private room. Brown bears that detect the smell of food will come to the front of the feeding port to see if they want food. Therefore, we always work in pairs of two, with a person who feeds with a shovel and a person who drives away brown bears with an iron bar. You can quickly put the food in while watching the brown bear, but it is difficult because even one way of moving the shovel can be put in or not depending on the angle and speed. I'm clumsy, and I'm struggling with the advice of a senior zookeeper. 【Breeding Nakasuji】

There is a day called Enlightenment in the calendar. This year, March 5 was the day of enlightenment. The word "enlightenment" means that insects that have been wintering in the ground feel the arrival of spring and crawl out to the ground. By the way, the brown bears of Bear Mountain have also tried to "stay in winter", and three months have passed at the earliest. Until now, the brown bears have been sleeping calmly on the straw, but recently they seem to be moving their bodies and somehow restless and soothing. It was March 5th when I started to feel such a thing. As usual, I went up to the roof of the brown bear house and counted my breathing rate, and I heard a metallic sound behind me. I had a similar experience last year, and I thought, "No way," and when I looked back, the lid of the ventilation vent started to move, and the bear's forelimbs came out. The youngest Santa, an 8-year-old male, stood up and opened the ventilation opening. Also, when observing the bear in the animal barn, I noticed the keeper and approached with a firm step in front of the door. It moves so well that it is hard to believe that it has slept without eating for three months, and I am once again amazed at the strength of the brown bear's vitality. On March 11, TV news reported that a wild brown bear appeared in a private house in Shari Town and ate "Takuan". From this news, I wondered if the time when wild brown bears and "artificial wintering" brown bears in captivity wake up at the same time. From this, if it is assumed that the completion of artificial wintering by brown bears in captivity coincides with the start of activity of wild brown bears, it may be possible to predict the activity of wild brown bears by looking at the movements of artificial wintering individuals, although it is a hypothesis. If you do so, I think it will be possible to inform those who are climbing in the spring or entering the mountains in advance of cautionary information. Bear Mountain is conducting an "artificial winter" with a large number of animals. The observation data may be used for various things [Breeding Kurokawa]

Yesterday, we started snow removal in the park in preparation for the opening on 4/29. Compared to last year, there was about 60 cm more snow, so we started snow removal from the bear watching bus road. The snow is cleared wide enough for one car to pass through. It took me two days to finally make one lap. And another snowplow team is attacking the promenade course. Snow removal of the most difficult part of the day, the entrance slope. I took a picture on the way. It is piled up to the same height as the 176 cm tall member, if not more. Snow removal has only just begun, but we aim to continue until the end of March. (Facility: Hisai)

From the window of the lift ticket office where I am, I can see Sarah and Moko well. Gently "hide and shoot" (^3^) so that you don't wake up with the sound of opening the window. Moko-san, I'm sleeping... I don't want my stomach to get cold, so the blanket looks warm! Hah! ( ゚△ ゚;) Σ I woke up! Dreams, again...　Does it feel good to sleep with your face out? After playing with the engine at full throttle ★ in the morning and evening walks, I usually relax like this. The customers who come often seem to be "friends"? I am aware that I am wagging my tail to greet you. Even when I was updating this blog, I was (^^) in a dream [Ito]

Rice straw is raked, carried with the mouth, and chewed to soften it to make a bed. It's dark and hard to see, but keep an eye out and watch them chew on it.

This is great news for zookeepers and customers alike. Bear Mountain's annual passport is finally born! Since its opening in 2006, the "Annual Passport" has been requested by many customers. It was born in response to happy opinions such as never getting tired of watching it, wanting to come back to see it many times during the season, and being able to see the ecology of bears that was different from the last time I came (>▽<) I want more people to see and feel the behavior of bears that change with the seasons. We zookeepers also hope that the passport will create an opportunity for that. Spring Bears munching on green grass. Often eat butterbur and clover. Early summer estrus season. There will be a lot of back rubbing and flaunting behavior. Summer: Bears who are hungry for the heat. Can you find them napping or bathing in the shade of a tree?! Autumn Autumn of appetite! At salmon events, salmon are chased vigorously. The bears are full and have a satisfied expression. You may even be able to witness a glimpse that even zookeepers rarely see. The way they climb trees and play with each other is hilarious, and the tense atmosphere when incompatible bears meet each other is also conveyed and overwhelming. Please come and see the bears of Sahoro with your passport!　　【Ito】 ★ For more information about the Annual Passport, please see "Latest News".

One of the zookeeper's jobs is to walk Sara and Moco. As expected of the director! It fits perfectly under your feet and is well-trained. ...There's a reason for this. Sara and Moco are playing happily while taking a walk. They will run as fast as they can to far away places, but no matter how far they get away, when you call their name they will happily come back. She begged the principal because she would receive a reward when she returned. Sarah and Moco are usually next to the lift ticket office at the ski resort. Moko is friendly, so she shows affection to the guests and asks them to play with her, but Sarah hides in the hut and doesn't come out. But maybe I really want you to play with me! ? Take a look at Sarah, who runs around very energetically during walks. Sarah is in the back. The rear view in the foreground is moco. Close the gap... When Sarah approaches, run away in a dash!≡≡≡He(*–)ノ It was too fast and I got a blur... Sarah runs with her nostrils fully inflated. She's a completely different dog than the one hiding in the shed ☆

Around 9:30, we headed towards the bear house along the path through the forest. The purpose is to observe and record the behavior of bears during their "winter hiatus." The observation begins by counting the bear's breathing rate. The method is to count the number of breaths by placing your ear against the handle of the ventilation hole installed in each room on the roof of the bear house. When the zookeeper separated the animals and pressed their ears against the metal handles to listen to their breathing rates in the cold wind, it was so cold that they lost sensation in their ears. In addition, it takes skill and experience to be able to hear only the sounds of breathing when the sound of the wind is interfering. Around 10:15am: Inside the bear enclosure, which has been cut off from light, teams of two will use flashlights to observe the bears, their bedrooms, straw and nests, and the presence or absence of ice. This series of tasks is absolutely indispensable in order to successfully complete the winter hiatus. 11:00 Cleaning the goat shed We have two female goats, ``Yuki-chan'' and ``Atsuko.'' 11:50 Sara and Moco urinate. 13:00 Enter bear observation data from the morning. We will carefully enter our observations into the computer, as they will be valuable data for elucidating ``winter confinement.'' 14:00 I go to the bear house to count the number of breaths. 15:00 Idol dog walk No matter how strong the wind is or how much snow falls, the dog runs around happily in the snow. 16:00 We will enter bear observation data in the afternoon and have a meeting at the end of the day. The final task of breeding is for the dog to urinate after dinner. 17:00 Leaving work! ! This was a one-day introduction to breeding work. Some of the breeding staff also work at ski resorts, so if you would like to hear about bears, please feel free to ask them. [Breeding Miyano/Kurokawa]

Hello. Today I would like to introduce a day in the life of a winter zookeeper. 8:00 We have a meeting to discuss today's work schedule and the status of the bears from the previous day. The day starts around 8:10 with a walk of the huskies "Sarah" and "Moko". Since he is a large dog, he takes time to exercise. After the walk, we disassemble and clean the sleeping cages (we also disinfect them to prevent illness). After breakfast, we move to the ticket office to greet skiers. Now she is the idol of my workplace and customers. ...Continue to part 2 [Breeding Miyano/Kurokawa]

He is using his forelimbs to knead the rice straw that has been replenished to make it soft. The rice straw is carefully raked down to make a bed.

Zookeeper job quiz. This is a review. Q: How do you put rice straw into the bear's room for sleeping? 1. Bears in winter move slowly, so replenish at Mach speed. 2. Wake up the sleeping bear and take it out of the room to replenish. 3. Replenish through the ventilation hole in the ceiling. 4. Remove the blinds and replenish from between the iron bars. Well, the correct answer was... 3. Refill from the ventilation hole in the ceiling. Did everyone get it right? There is a ventilation hole on the roof (ceiling) of the bear house, and rice straw is replenished through this small hole. Even zookeepers try to avoid entering bear enclosures as much as possible. No matter how slow the bears are, you won't be able to get close to them (;゜(E)゜) We make various beds for each individual, such as softening straight rice straw or tearing it into small pieces. (The photo shows a dogfish)

Keepers have a lot of work to do while the brown bears are hibernating for the winter. One way to do this is to feed each bear rice straw so that they can sleep soundly, but here's the problem! Q. How do you put rice straw into the bear's room for sleeping? Please choose from the following four options. 1. Bears in winter move slowly, so replenish at Mach speed. 2. Wake up the sleeping bear and take it out of the room to replenish. 3. Refill from the ventilation hole on the ceiling. 4. Remove the blinds and refill from between the iron bars. This Bear Mountain News is a continuation of the quiz, and I will post the correct answers later, so please look forward to it ヾ(*゜ー゜)ノ

What kind of animal did you imagine in the last footprint quiz? The first photo was the footprints of a red fox. A wonderful straight line! It's so eye-catching to see him walking with light feet (^^) The second photo is a snow rabbit! Did you notice that there are large footprints (hind legs) next to small footprints (front legs)? These large hind legs act as snowshoes, allowing them to walk quickly on snowy fields. I remember what I learned when I was little by looking at footprints in the fields and playing quizzes with my grandfather. This is the time when footprints are easy to find, so please have fun with the footprint quiz with your friends and family! [Ito]