"Does a bear shit in the woods?" The rhetorical question is typically met with an obvious, “yes.” However, while in Karuizawa, Japan, we were consumed by this question in its most literal sense. We trekked through the forest, eyes peeled for bear droppings, a sign that the famed Asiatic black bear was near.
Being the seafarers that we are, the forest was a departure from our usual element. Yet, here we were, south of the Japanese Alps, seeking these surprisingly small bears that roam these not-so-remote lands.
We arrived, clad in sandals, shorts and tank tops, unprepared for the biting cold that’s typical for the region in October. This initial shock to the system marked the beginning of our land-based expedition in Japan. An adventure that would take us to an edge of the earth surprisingly close to one of the country’s premier vacation destinations.
Karuizawa, just an hour by train from Tokyo, lies in the shadow of majestic mountains and is a popular destination during the summer and winter. Yet, many visitors remain oblivious to the wild Asiatic black bear population inhabiting the neighboring forests, occasionally venturing into human settlements.
Our curiosity was piqued by the presence of these incredible animals living on the edge of human activity. Eager to catch a glimpse of the bears in their natural habitat, we embarked on a mission to track their movements and observe their existence alongside human encroachment. And so, we donned our 7mm thick wetsuits and hit the slopes to track the forest dwellers.
Upon arrival, we were welcomed by Amelia Hiorns from the Picchio Wildlife Research Centre, a leading authority on Japan’s black bears. Amelia was going to offer us an insider's view into bears’ habitat and behaviors, as well as a chance to consciously explore the Karuizawa forest with her. One of the core programs that Picchio engages in is community education on being bear aware as well as conducting regular bear patrols on suburban streets, as these animals are known to venture into urban areas in search of food from time to time.
It wasn’t long during our trekking that we collectively decided why this was happening. After making Amelia stop more than necessary at every single local 7-Eleven store that we passed, for the most delicious warm pizza and bean buns, we could see why the bears wanted to come into town. By the way, Japanese 7-Eleven chains are far superior to any of the USA locations we’d been in!
Karuizawa's pristine nature, evident in every direction, heightened our expectations of spotting bears effortlessly. However, the reality of tracking these elusive creatures proved more challenging than anticipated.
Now ready with the appropriate, cold-weather gear, we ventured into the forest the following day. Armed with a tracking device to locate the collar-tagged bears monitored and researched by Picchio, we delved deeper into their curious world. As we went, we attuned ourselves to the subtle signs of their hidden presence amidst the verdant wilderness.
Acorns were our first clue in tracing the bears. These creatures are fond of ascending trees or scouring the forest floor for these treats. Always being a big fan of acorns generally, I assigned myself the role of “lead acorn spotter” and on our way we went! While trekking, we were vigilant for large acorn patches or trees marked with claw traces, indicators of the bears' climbing activities.
Bear tracks, accentuated by the recent rains, offered another tangible clue. The soft, muddy grounds captured the imprints distinctly, guiding our path deeper into their territory. The final clue was of course, poop. After all, if you stumble upon bear shit in the woods, that means you’ve officially entered their territory.
Every time we saw droppings, of any kind, we’d all get down to the ground and start examining it. The book, “What’s your poo telling you?” was extremely applicable to our situation right there, right then.
In fact, the summary of the book goes as follows:
“With universal appeal (everyone poops, after all), this witty, illustrated description of over two dozen dookies (each with a medical explanation written by a doctor) details what one can learn about health and well-being by studying what's in the bowl. A floater? It's probably due to a buildup of gas. Now think back on last night's dinner, a burrito perhaps? All the greatest shits are here: The Log Jam, The Glass Shard, The Deja Poo, The Hanging Chad … the list goes on.”
That’s what we were examining in the woods—what the bear droppings were telling us. Was the found poop fresh and nutty? That might mean the bear just finished eating and perhaps is close by. Is the poop smelly? Then it’s certainly not coming from the bears as they are predominantly eating nuts and fruits (depending on the season) which don't have an odor. Was the poop of a certain consistency? That could indicate how long it’s been sitting there.
In the vast realm of ecological study, animal poop, often termed as "scat," serves as a veritable goldmine of information, revealing intricate details about the creatures that left them behind. Scat provides researchers with a non-invasive window into an animal's life, offering clues about its diet, health, genetics, and even its interactions within the ecosystem.
For instance, the presence of specific seeds or undigested parts within droppings can give scientists a clear picture of an animal's dietary preferences and its role in seed dispersal. This is crucial for understanding the interdependence of species within food chains and webs.
When we were doing our tracking, droppings were instrumental in determining the bears' movements, territories and also health. The consistency, size, and other physical characteristics of the scat can provide an estimate of the bears’ age, current standing and how recently it passed through the area.
On a larger scale, monitoring these signs regularly can aid in understanding population dynamics, reproductive statuses and even potential threats to the species. While it may seem rudimentary, scat is an invaluable tool in the toolkit of wildlife biologists and ecologists.
We were using sticks to poke around the scat to decipher what it was telling us. After our collective assessment, with all of us weighing in what we thought about the scat, there was another critical step: “bagging it.” We’d scoop up the scat with a bag, we’d label it based on date, time, location coordinates and then keep it safe for return to the research base.
Once back at base, the team would analyze further, determining exactly what the bears are eating in and out of the tagging program. This vital information would then pave the way for an in-depth assessment, shedding light on critical and specific bear details about their diet, the food sources in the wild and what challenges and threats they might be up against.
The scat samples were stored in a dedicated refrigerator, intuitively dubbed "the poop fridge." This fridge, containing samples from the past six months, truly delighted us with all of our hearts. We never thought that we’d have the unique privilege to rummage around a poop fridge in our lives, let alone in the wilderness just shy of the Japanese Alps. Alongside the scat, a freezer held bear blood, fur and teeth for further analysis of the bears in the program.
Throughout our expedition, poop has frequently surfaced in our conversations, uniting our team in ways one wouldn't expect. Poop in the wild serves as an invaluable ledger of an animal's life. It unveils so much about what it's like in places we won’t ever fully understand or have complete access to. It’s such an eye opener to the world of the wild, one that we crave to be a part of even more than we already are. It’s also plainly and simply, hilarious to talk about poop all the time!
More importantly, this often-overlooked byproduct plays a pivotal role in nature’s cycle. As a natural fertilizer, animal droppings enrich the soil, facilitating the growth of plants, ensuring a robust ecosystem, and perpetuating the circle of life. In essence, what may seem like waste is really nature’s gold, both when it comes to land and sea.
From the sustainable farming in Palawan, Philippines and the deserted landmass of Tetepare in the Solomon Islands to the wildlife sanctuaries in Mondulkiri, Cambodia and the horse reserves in Pacific Harbour, Fiji—we’ve seen, celebrated and talked about a lot of poop on expedition. However, it wasn’t until we met Amelia that we went deeper on the why. With her, we uncovered the underlying meaning of poop and why it should not be cast aside as merely waste.
So, if you want to learn a wide range of information about any creature, great or small, look no further than their last dookie. Consider examining it thoroughly. Now you know why it always has been, and always will be, about poop with this expedition team!
To be continued …
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