2nd day of the ski resort opening The weather is nice today, with temperatures below freezing even during the day. The air is clear and you can enjoy a pleasant view. A photo of the direction of Mt. Daisetsu from the 7th lift landing area. From the left, you can see Tomuraushi, Mt. Ishikari-dake, Nipetsu, and Upepesanke. [komiya]

Sahoro Resort Ski Resort opened today, one day later than scheduled. Skiers and snowboarders who had been looking forward to winter were enjoying the feel of the North Street course as they skied it, and it looked like they were having a lot of fun♪ While taking photos, everyone was so excited that I thought, ``If it's going to be so much fun, I want to ski.'' By the way, the brown bears are not asleep yet. The breeding staff are currently engaged in a variety of tasks. In addition to raising animals, you can also become lift ticket issuer, rental staff, and cableway operator for lift operation! As ski resort staff, we welcome everyone while caring about the brown bears. And then a husky dog ​​came to the ski resort　He U・x・U　HeU・x・U If you love dogs, please say hello to them on your way to and from the ski slopes. *Please do not feed her. Left) Sarah, 10 months old♀ She is scared and immediately hides in the house. Right) Moko, 6 months old♀ Play with her x2♪ Please get her attention~I love it

It's been a long time since I last updated. Authentic winter is finally here. The ski resort is also scheduled to open on the 24th, so it's been a busy day. Not only the mountains but also the city is covered in snow, and the illuminations in front of Shintoku Station are beautiful this year too! (←This is a photo from last year) We had a cute guest come to our house yesterday. I was planting sunflowers in my garden, and it seems like they came to eat the fallen seeds. This spring, I was building a nest and raising my young inside the ventilation fan, so I won't be able to turn on the ventilation fan for a while! (I was moved to see them safely leave the nest...) Our home is popular with sparrows. Well, today we brushed off the snow that had piled up on the fall prevention nets on both sides of the promenade! I bent down and shoveled...it was a difficult task for someone like me who doesn't have enough exercise (´△｀;) It was so quiet inside the park, which was completely covered in snow, that I felt a little lonely. Next time, as winter approaches, I will do my best to update you on the bears' current situation. [Ito]

General Groups (10 or more people) Adults Children/Seniors Adults Children/Seniors Admission ticket Stroll while looking for brown bears from the 370m long, 5m high pedestrian bridge that crosses the park (approx. 10-15 minutes to Bear Point) 1,836 yen 1,080 yen 1,620 yen 972 yen Admission ticket with bear watching bus Includes a dedicated bus ride to get close to brown bears and a promenade course (approximately 20 minutes to Bear Point) 2,916 yen 2,160 yen 2,700 yen 2,052 yen *Children = 4 years old to elementary school student. Children under 3 years old are free. Seniors = 60 years or older (please bring proof of age) ★Up to 2 preschool children accompanying one adult or senior are free★ (Child rates apply for older children) ■Lunch pack Adult Child/Senior Admission ticket + hotel lunch 2,700 yen 2,200 yen Admission ticket with bus + hotel lunch 3,200 yen 2,700 yen・Lunch will be served at the Hanamori Kuma Cafe Restaurant inside the Sahoro Resort Hotel. (About 2 minutes by car) ・You can choose from the Hanamori Kuma lunch menu. ・Business hours for lunch are 11:30-14:00. Reception: Bear Mountain Ticket Office or Sahoro Resort Hotel Front *For groups of 10 or more, we will provide you with a special group menu. Click here for the group menu For more information, please contact Sahoro Resort Hotel TEL: 0156-64-7111. ■Let's have fun at Sahoro Pack This pack includes an entrance ticket to Bear Mountain with a bus and a selection of activities. After enjoying the brown bears, let's move your body and play under the blue sky. [Activities to choose from] *Choose one item of your choice from the options below. Easy experience canoe (30 minutes) / Mountain bike rental (1 hour) Eraser stamp / Nature craft / Table tennis (1 hour) Let's play at Sahoro Pack Adults Children 3,100 yen 2,400 yen Sales location: Ticket office, resort center in Sahoro Resort Hotel Validity date: Only on the day of sale Note: After sales, refunds will not be given even if the activity is canceled due to bad weather etc. Thank you for your understanding. […]

Business Period April 25, 2015 – October 18, 2015 ■Closed Days April 28, May 12 and 19, June 9, 16, 23, and 30, October 6 and 13 *The park was closed on May 26 (Tuesday) and June 2 (Tuesday), but will be open as usual for groups. However, the bear watching bus will be reserved for groups until around 10am. Business hours 9:00 – 16:00 *Last entry 15:20 *Business hours are subject to change. Thank you for your understanding. Bear watching bus operating hours All days 9:20, 9:50 10:20, 10:50 11:20, 11:50 12:20, 12:50 13:20, 13:50 14:20, 14:50 15:20 GW5/3 – 5/5 9:00, 9:20, 9:40 10:00, 10:20, 10:40 11:00, 11:20, 11:40 12:00, 12:20, 12:40 13:00, 13:20, 13:40 14:00, 14:20, 14:40 15:00, 15:20 *Schedule may change depending on group reservations or congestion.

When releasing bears into a sub-paddock, we have to select members based on the compatibility of the bears, rather than just randomly releasing them. This is because when a strong bear and a weak bear are together, it can put pressure on the weak bear to avoid getting injured in a fight during the critical period before the winter retreat. Every morning, I stare at the bear's room allocation chart (a list of which bears are in which rooms) and try to figure out what's going on. Today's members were all bears with peaceful personalities, just like today's Warm and Koharu weather. After walking around the sub-paddock and rubbing our backs, we each started basking in the sun in our own spots. Hmm? This…this feeling might be true! Is it a coincidence? ! They are perfectly aligned like the planets are in series! ! Rokuta, Kouta, and Joyner from the front Hmm, that's amazing...Joyner always has a seated look in his eyes. From a different angle - Kouta's back view Hiroki is doing his best to rub his back in the relaxing group. There was a toy that came out when you filled it with food and rolled it, but it broke due to the bear's strength, so I didn't use it for a while. Joyner didn't sleep and was wandering around all the time wondering if there was anything interesting to do, so I tried giving it to him. Everyone came closer and looked at the toys that were being rolled around and broken. As expected, the one I played with for the longest time was the ``Playful Joyner.'' [Keeper: Ito]

The bear panel in the center of the bulletin board has also been covered with plastic to protect it from the winter. The pond that was once crowded with frogs and salamanders laying their eggs in the spring is now quiet. The bear pond has also been drained! 　 ↑Last year, the straw that the bear used to hide in the winter was on display. Will I sleep again this year? ! I entered the park for the first time in a while. It was quiet with snow piling up in places (^^) [Keeper: Ito]

When I was sorting through my photos, I found some from last year and couldn't help but look at them nostalgically. BEAR Mt. I would like to upload some photos that look abstract (←also abstract ^^;). 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 We are really happy when bears act according to their own will and show us the dynamism of life. [Keeper: Ito]

Currently, the bears are living in the animal enclosure and sub-paddock (playground). They eat food in the animal pen, sleep, bask in the sun in the sub-paddock, get back rubs... After eating the food, they all fall asleep with full stomachs. MISUMI's amazing "Hara" is full! Eat only what you like and eat the rest... Mr. Joyner! I hope they eat it properly without leaving any leftovers. Well, our preparations for winter are progressing at a steady pace. Removing electric fences, draining water from facilities, preparing vehicles in the park for wintering, installing control panels on the grids of animal enclosures, maintaining roads, moving offices...It's something that happens every year, but every year I find myself thinking, ``Wow, that's all there is to it!'' I'm sure we're not the only ones who feel like winter is getting closer and closer. Bears, please do your best to prepare your bodies for winter (^u^)/ [Keeper: Ito]

Today we also prepared a rope ring for Santa's plaything. He didn't seem to mind the tree branch I had thrown at him, just sniffing it... After all, his eyes were on Takurin. push! It seems like you're curious about the unique elasticity. Can you see anything...? 　 　 Do bears and humans alike want to put their hands on Wakka? Santa's eyes are serious! 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Last time I put it in the pond and played with it. I like him (^^) However, Santa suddenly looked up and looked outside the fence. Heavy machinery was being used today to maintain the roads in the park, and this is something Santa has never seen before. I trotted over to check on him, but he suddenly became scared and ran away in a panic. When I got closer, it was bigger than I expected! Did you think so? The bear was fine, but Santa was keeping an eye on him. Today was a very exciting day for Santa. [Keeper: Ito] Happy pumpkin snack♪

Bear Mountain = Bear Well, it's obvious that there are bears, but there are also goats. He usually lives in a shed near the animal shelter, but this fall he even went on a business trip to a place near the bus stop (^^) He is a Saanen breed native to Switzerland and has a large body. (They have great strength too!) Left: Yuki-chan Right: Atsuko-chan Atsuko has horns. We sometimes butt heads, whether we're on good terms or not. When I went on a business trip, customers called out to me, ``Hello, Yuki-chan,'' even though they didn't know my name. After all, the name Yuki is a standard name for a goat! All of the bears at Bear Mountain are male, and among the keepers they are idols. When Atsuko is in a bad mood, she sometimes lashes out at the hand you hold out to her, but she also has that annoying side... (*´U｀*) The goats have also grown their winter coats, and are they ready to survive the winter? The snow from the other day had completely melted and the sun was warm today. The goats were also basking in the sun and looking comfortable. [Keeper: Ito]

I came to work today and was surprised! After all, the weather in the mountains is completely different...it's snowing! snow! The ski resort is also clean. The road to the animal shelter is also clean. Is it “juyuki” instead of rime? ! The branches sagged under the weight of the snow, creating a beautiful tunnel! How will the bears react to this year's first heavy snowfall? I immediately took Santa out to the sub paddock. 　First of all, I'll give you a back rub. I'm carefully covering all the trees... trotting around! It really looks like fun~ (´▽｀)／ Dengurigaeshi! They have fun by intentionally sliding their feet, fiddling with snowballs floating in the water with their paws, and even try to climb trees. I received a rubber cable ring (I didn't need it when the ski lift was being repaired), so I gave it to him, and after chewing on it, he started playing with it by putting it through his front legs. Santa is 7 years old, the youngest at Bear Mountain, and still quite a naughty boy (^^) We were very happy to see Santa having so much fun. ···but! I thought this snow would stop and melt soon, but it didn't stop even after noon or after dark. The roads within the resort grounds were so deep that snowplows were dispatched... There was more than 15cm of snow on the roof of the animal house; I was scared to go home by car. Is it time for wild bears to shut up? That's what I thought when I saw the white mountains. [Keeper: Ito]

It rained last night in the town of Shintoku, which is only about 15km away from Sahoro. The weather forecast was for it to turn into snow, but the temperature continued to rain as the temperature did not drop. Was it not that cold? When I went to work thinking this, I was suddenly greeted with a snowy landscape from around the first station of Karikachi Pass. °. °. °. °. ヽ. However, during this time of year, the temperature rises during the day, so it melts quickly. It rains and melts, it rains and melts again, and then it turns into root snow and snow begins to accumulate. Snow that melts during the day turns into water, and if the road remains wet and cools at night, it can lead to ice burns and accidents. If you drive a car, have you changed your tires yet? Sahoro Resort Hotel will be closed for maintenance until November 22nd, but we had some cute guests this morning!

Good evening, this is Kurokawa, this is my first time writing a blog. My blog debut is today, but I have been working as a zookeeper at Bear Mountain since it opened. What I have is food to give to the bears. The contents include beets, corn, and bear pellets that are in season. Soak these with water and mix to complete the rice (bear version). There's something written on the box, what should you read? Hint: Hi○ma It's so heavy! Shoot quickly! Also add carrots. Carrots alone weigh 12 kg. Bears love carrots! I eat a lot. We also give pumpkins, apples, watermelons, etc. depending on the season. Seeing them eating happily is a moment of bliss for us. I love Misumi... I usually leave them like this in each room and wait for the bears to return. I tried decorating! (Scary...;) [Keeper: Kurokawa]

Today is anesthesia day. Blood sampling, weight measurement, physical measurements, etc. All must be completed while the bear is sleeping. As for the bears, of course they'll be given anesthesia by injections, so there's no reason they're in a good mood (｀△´)≡3 One bear makes a growling sound, and another bear threatens to face a blowgun that has fallen on the floor and says, ``You're the one who made me hurt!'' However, today's canter didn't get angry, didn't make any noise, and didn't make a sound even though the needle was stuck in it... As if he had just reached some kind of enlightenment, he remained calm and held his head in a dignified manner. Everyone couldn't help but be impressed by the ``manly'' appearance of Canta. Now, once the bear is completely asleep, work begins. Feel the bear's body to see if it's in good shape for the winter. He has thick winter fur...it's so fluffy (*^u^*) Are there any scratches on his body? The soles of your feet are quite soft! 　Weight measurement. Place the bear on the sheet and lift it up. Oh...it's heavy! ! 　Blood collection. The work was carried out under falling snow. The air hurts now! Anesthesia work is an opportunity to do things you wouldn't normally be able to do. I'm sure you don't like being pricked, but I hope the bears do their best! [Keeper: Ito]

Today, more than two weeks after "It's about to snow!" on October 10th, it finally snowed. I'm sorry for being a liar even though I declared, "I'll be down in mid-October." I apologize for the inconvenience, but I took a photo of the blue sky and white mountains from in front of the Sahoro Resort Hotel, so please excuse me. (*_ _) Now, what the bears are doing is undergoing an autumn health checkup, which includes weighing them. We received 788 entries for the October event weight guessing contest. Those who answered correctly will receive next year's annual passport as a gift, so I'm sure you all looked carefully and expected that. The correct answer will be announced on the web on December 1st, so please wait patiently. The breeding staff has also been very busy since the zoo closed! He is wearing warm winter clothes to work outside, and his body looks as big as a bear before winter. With their large bodies, they not only perform health checkups and take care of the bears, but also work at a rapid pace to clean up before the snow piles up.

I had released a rainbow trout into the pond in the hopes that the bears would chase it, but perhaps because the pond was deep, it was very rare for me to catch it, even with the help of a skilled Hirotake joiner. Therefore, we decided to carry out a ``strategy to lower the water level of the pond'' toward the final day. Remove mud from the pond and open the valve to ensure clean water is constantly flowing. 　→　　　This is what happened The bear's reaction when it first saw a pond with little water was very interesting! It seemed different from usual with its front paws, as if checking to make sure there was no water. The effect of making it shallower is that the bear is strongly attached to the pond and does not leave it. Particularly characteristic were: ・Hirotake → The type who aims properly and catches it (and he is used to it and has good skills) ・Joiner → The type who just searches under the rocks (Joyner is the big butt in the photo) ・Kumaemon → The one who guesses and leaves things to his own strength (He is usually confident, but he was panicking when he let it escape)　 　 　 It was a great result that even the bears who had not been very interested in fish showed signs of searching for them. Fishing is one of the things that bears learn from their mother when they are little bears, but they learn from their own experiences and become better at it. They sometimes learn things by observing and imitating the behavior of other bears! Many people were surprised when they saw bears showing agile movements, perhaps because they usually have a strong image of them moving slowly. The bears were able to eat their fill, and it must have been food for them to survive the winter. Although we are now closed for this season, we will continue to update you on the bears' current status on our blog. Thank you very much for visiting us. We are relieved that we have finally settled in. Now I hope the bears can sleep... (^^) [Keeper: Ito]

Bear Mountain has only one day left in its 2008 season. The weather has changed from yesterday's rain and fog, and we can see the mountains in the distance clearly. We have had many visitors this season, so on behalf of Bear Mountain, I would like to say a few words of gratitude from Misumi. Although he speaks quickly, I think he is probably saying "thank you"!? The movement of his mouth that makes it look like he is talking is a behavior unique to Misumi.

The bears' fur has also become winter-soaked, and the appearance has become voluminous. It seems that mokomoro fashion is popular recently (?!) If that's the case, I think that joiners are keeping the trend in check these days (laughs) Spring → Autumn The size is completely different. (^^;) It's not just because of the fur that it looks bigger because it eats in the fall, but when I weighed my joiner last year, I found that it didn't look as big as I expected. What's going on with his hair? I want to touch that fluffy fur (although I can't) A joiner who hustles and plays on a small mound of endpoints. I was playing for almost 20 minutes today. 　 　 　　　Red-bellied Woodpecker Discovery! It was suddenly cold, as if I had returned to myself after playing with enthusiasm. I'm surprised at how quickly the changeover is. [Zookeeper: Ito]

When I was sorting out the equipment in the room, I heard a clacking sound from the ventilation opening. I thought that the staff was inspecting the ventilation openings, but I didn't know what was going on, so I went to see what was going on in front of the glass, and Hirotake appeared with an aluminum lid in it. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Hooray!" I was wandering around for some reason, so I wondered if I would do anything. I thought so, but sure enough, he did it. It seems that he has stretched out his back and stretched out his hands to find a new toy. Very proudly, I went into the pond and started playing. In the middle of the video, there is a scene where Hirotake stands up with his forelimbs in between. I'm sure the viewer probably felt it, but don't you think that expresses the emotion of "Yay!" with your whole body?! (laughs) I can't get angry when I see such a thing... ( ́ー') I can only say that please moderate the pranks. As an aside, I've heard that "playing with tools" is a sign of high intelligence. As I looked around to see if there was anything to play with, I wondered if that was really the case. [Zookeeper: Ito] *Hirotake Gallery playing proudly*

The bus driver picked up chestnuts for me. It hurts and I can't (^^;) hold it How does a bear attack a mussel?! Hirotake is very interested in the chestnuts that have fallen, and immediately begins to play with them with their front paws. Put it in your mouth...　I threw it away. But I'm going to eat it again soon. The video ended in the middle, but after this, I was able to crack the iga with my fingernails and dexterously take out the contents and eat it. Deliciously mog-mog-mog- (^u^) If I can get chestnuts again, I would like to give them to them. [Zookeeper: Ito]

Hmmm... Hmmm... Whoa?! 　It was ZZZ Makoto Theater (laughs) In the evening, Inuo returns to the beast house. The bear watch is accurate. [Zookeeper: Ito]

Shrubbery in the center of the bare point. When creating the bare point, this is the only place where the natural state was deliberately left. It's a lot of space, and it might be a bit of a waste as it is. Last year, I dug a hole and created a pond. This spring, I was happy to see that the Ezo frog and the Ezo salamander came to lay eggs! It was (^^) very popular not only with children but also with adults Now we are digging a field to transplant seedlings that we have been increasing by cuttings since last year! Kuma's "Autumn Dessert" We are planning to transplant 3 species of Kokuwa, Miyama Matatabi and Yama grapes + Mizunara seedlings that have been shaded by other trees in the garden. Ecchi Otchi ・・・ Steady work in shifts ( ́△';) The roots of the sassa tree, which have multiplied quickly over the course of a few years, stand in the way. The vitality of bamboo is amazing! I managed to pioneer it. That's all for today! I want you to somehow get through the harsh Sahoro winter here. The saplings are still unreliable, but I will try to put their life into their strength. Hopefully, we will be able to prepare and grow the field next spring. When it grows and bears fruit, you can also use the real thing to guide your customers. Of course, it is delicious even if it is eaten by humans. I want the bears to eat a lot. My dreams are only growing, but it's hard to do it by myself for the time being! (laughs) [Zookeeper: Ito]