Ezo Shika or Hokkaido Deer

Ezo, Yezo or Yeso are old expressions for the island of Hokkaido. The deer are different than the ones seen in the rest of Japan. Animals such as the bear also differ as the Hokkaido version is more like the Alaskan or Kodiak brown bear, while Honshu has bears more like the Canadian black bear.
The deer have become too numerous on the Shiretoko Peninsula, but we did our part in curbing their growth by consuming some of their meat. It was quite good. Probably due to their large numbers, many of the deer have become quite comfortable with the presence of the 'top predator'.

Click on Ezo Shika to see photographs on Picasa.