On my way to Shikaoicho to capture the autumn leaves, I saw a large animal crossing the road a few hundred meters ahead. It looked much bigger than a dog or a fox, possibly a wild boar or a brown bear, but there are no wild boars in Hokkaido. When I stopped the car and cautiously looked around, I spotted a group of Yezo sika deer, probably following a stag. This time of year is the breeding season, so Yezo sika deer are quite active. Just yesterday, a stag suddenly dashed out in the early morning, forcing me to slam on the brakes. The male Yezo sika deer are larger than a foal, so colliding with one could easily result in a severely damaged vehicle that is no longer drivable. Please be cautious while driving in Hokkaido.