Tis the Season … Wasps are busy

 

In Yokohama, we’re talking about roller-coaster temperatures at the beginning of May. From the end of April to the beginning of May, we Japanese have a “Golden Week” of consecutive national holidays. It is supposed to be a continuation of fine days with low humidity and so-so hot temperature. Now we expect the most comfortable season of year. This year … low pressure systems are coming from the west, i.e. the Eurasian Continent, often with still cold air, and the south, i.e. Pacific Ocean, with hot air from the equator. Just a day or so of fine days are followed by cold rain. A “fine” day becomes dead-hot summer in some parts of our neighborhood. Cold rain morning requires winter coats. What’s happening? we murmur.

Even though, our forests are growing with bursts of many hues of green. Whateva. Tis the season of refreshingly jolly and beautiful nature. … Er, maybe some dangerous creatures (for us) have the same opinion. Please be careful when you stroll in forests in southern Kanto region in early May. Poisonous snakes like Mamushi (Japanese pit viper) and Yamakagashi (Tiger keelback) become active. Unless somebody releases Cobra or something, these two snakes are the only poisonous snakes in mainland Japan. (Okinawa and south islands of Kagoshima have super-aggressive Habu snakes.) Unless you make them surprise, or intentionally attack them, they will not bite you. So, be careful during your trekking by telling them you’re coming. Chatting with your friends, ringing bear bells, carrying radio, or simply drumming the bush before you with a long stick (like Nordic poles) would work. Despite all the precautions taken, you could be bitten. In such a case, please call 119 (Japanese emergency number) immediately and wait for the professional rescuers to come. Before they arrive, it could save your life by taking standard emergency procedures on site, including rinse the bite wound immediately with soap and fresh water, rest in a posture to make patient’s heart in higher position than the wound, and drink lots of water as poison of snakes could cause dehydration. All these measures are standard by Japan Red Cross, 2020 First Aid Guideline.

Tiger keelback I’ve met recently.
It was busy going to a pond of tadpoles
rather than attacking humans.
Have a nice lunch, mate.

Another danger of animal bites around Yokohama is hornets. From late April to May, the queen hornet is busy building her empire castle in bush. When you’re strolling along a trekking road more or less enclosed by bushes in Yokohama’s forest, DO NOT drum these shrubs especially in late spring to early summer. The typical nest of hornets during this season has a size of adult’s fist, and looks like a mushroom hanging in a bush.

This is the hornets’ nest!

It’s difficult to notice them quickly. On the other hand, the number of hornets per nest at this time of the year is still not much and they are busy making their home bigger. Unless you smash the nest suddenly (and unintentionally maybe), they will not attack you. “Don’t stir up a hornets’ nest,” and leave the site quietly. If you know a contact info for the people who manage the forest, such as Niiharu Satoyama Welcome Centre, please let them know ASAP you’ve encountered the nest in such-a-such corner of the forest. They will take care of the “thing” quickly … I think it was before I started this blog there was big nation-wide news from Niiharu Citizen Forest. A group of visitors to Niiharu Forest was attacked by hornets, and a person died. Since then, people in Niiharu are attentive to the risk, so do the rest of the forests near the human settlements in Japan. In any case please be careful always in a forest.

Thank God, we in Yokohama do not have risks of encountering bear. But in the other parts of Japan, including Yadoriki Area of Kanagawa Prefecture, there are several information about bears. The latest official announcement of the Prefecture is here, and the up-to-date aggregation site of private internet posting is here. The situation is not serious so far this year, it seems to me. Anyway, better safe than sorry. Please carry bear bells. These days it is recommended to carry several with different frequencies, if possible. They can tell bears you’re coming even if you’re walking in the forest of conifers then move to a road along a babbling steam. The bells can also let the bears think you’re not alone. And a can of bear deterrent is MUST-HAVE. Having said that, last year, I tried to obtain a bear spray in early summer, and found all were sold out around here. It might be wiser if you start early to procure such essential item for walking in Japanese mountains. Safe outdoors.

If you find environmental issues in Kanagawa Prefecture, please make a contact with

Kanagawa Natural Environment Conservation Center 神奈川県自然環境保全センター

657 Nanasawa, Atsugi City, 243-0121
〒243－0121　厚木市七沢657
Phone: 046-248-0323

You can send an enquiry to them by clicking the bottom line of their homepage at http://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/div/1644/