Study Plan

Overabundant populations of sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Hokkaido, Japan, present ecological and economic challenges. Management strategies such as culling, fencing, and monitoring are widely utilized, yet their effectiveness is shaped not only by ecological conditions but also by social and institutional contexts. In Pennsylvania, USA, comparable challenges occur where white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) drive significant crop damage and human-wildlife conflict. Despite similar struggles, the two regions operate under different governance systems: Pennsylvania, USA, uses a decentralized, state-led system with limited federal involvement, while Hokkaido, Japan, uses a centralized, government-led approach.

In Japan, sika deer are embedded in a longstanding cultural and historical narrative that can complicate management interventions, while in the United States, deer are more often seen through a utilitarian or recreational lens. This study will compare public attitudes toward deer across Japan and the United States, evaluate centralized and decentralized systems and how they affect management, and assess how these factors influence responses to ecological and agricultural impacts of overabundant deer populations.

To supplement the ecological aspect of this comparison, the study will incorporate a focused biological component examining differences between native sika deer and introduced populations in the United States. This will include a comparative analysis of existing data sets, published literature, and camera traps. In addition, direct behavioral observations will be conducted in both field and managed settings, including wildlife reserves and zoos, to enable close comparison of behavior, morphology, and human-animal interactions under different environmental conditions. Understanding biological differences between native and introduced populations is essential to this comparison, as variation in behavior and morphology may shape public attitudes toward deer and influence how management decisions are made.

During the research period at Hokkaido University under Mayumi Ueno, I will conduct a comparative analysis combining literature review, analysis of policy, and qualitative fieldwork. Semi-structured interviews with wildlife biologists, managers, and researchers will be utilized to examine how cultural context is incorporated into the decision-making of management. These will be compared with data from Pennsylvania, USA, drawing on existing research and interviews. This research will generate insights for developing more effective, socially acceptable, and culturally sensitive strategies for managing overabundant deer populations. It will also clarify how biological variation between native and introduced populations may shape human-wildlife coexistence in both Japan and the United States.