Korean Job Discussion Forums

SeoulMan6 · Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Location: Gangwon-do

I see deer probably once a week (they come right down to my house!) and pheasants every couple of weeks, depending on how often I go walking.

Slaps · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Location: Sitting on top of the world

I have seen a bird of prey (not sure what type as it was far away), numerous rats and that's about it in over 5yrs in Seoul. It's a shame as I love wildlife.

andrewchon · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 2:02 pm Post subject:

SeoulMan6 · Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Location: Gangwon-do

Just saw 2 more deer while enjoying my morning coffee. I snapped a couple of pics but they're it was a bit dark.

ekimswish · Joined: 24 Jan 2006

This makes me regret wishing all the deer here in Alberta would disappear. Since returning to Canada and working on an oil rig, I find the most dangerous part of the job is the wildlife on the road at night. Coming around the corner on a hilly highway bend I came a foot away from my Kia Rio being crushed under an enormous buck that must've been 7 feet tall with antlers. I see moose here and there and a white owl clipped my car the other day. In Taiwan and Korea I don't ever remember seeing wildlife, but then again I never made it to the rural areas down south. When I think of southern Korea I imagine it must be very beautiful as even the mountains within Seoul are not too shabby.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

In & around Sokcho, wild mammals I've spotted:
red squirrels
black squirrels
chipmunks
mice
rats
feral cats
bats
Siberian weasel
common weasel
raccoon dog
wild boar
water deer

TDC troll · Joined: 03 Feb 2009 Location: TDC

rkc76sf · Joined: 02 Nov 2008

Died By Bear · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 4:51 am Post subject:

It should come at no surprise that Koreans have killed and eaten anything that moves, it's their just their nature.

michi gnome · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Location: Dokdo

It is good to hear from people all over Korea. Lots of sad news: not many animals around near cities, and the last wolf killed in Korea in 1980. Also some hopeful reports: many animals in the countryside of Nam Myeon Village, and near Sokcho. I will definitely consider living in those areas when I return to Korea.

As a few have mentioned here, industrialization has poisoned and destroyed natural habitat, and large numbers of people concentrated in a small geographical area has certainly been a factor as well.

When you see a state like Illinois from a plane, it becomes clear just how much industrial-scale agriculture has also re-shaped large areas. Before agriculture, the state was prairie and grassland. Now less than 1% of the state is original prairie habitat.

It is amazing how animals have survived and thrived in parts of densely populated Chicago. The Des Plaines river here near the north side has been toxic for years, totally destroyed by industries dumping toxic waste. Efforts to clean up have made a little progress over the past decade or two. I see lots of ducks, geese, turtles, and larger birds like egrets around pretty often.

SeoulMan6 · Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Location: Gangwon-do

kimchi_pizza · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 1:06 am Post subject:

They are out there, but usually in the more remote areas. I've come across a number of critters including boar (we scared the hell out of each
other and took off running in opposite directions).

But it's a real treat to come across owls and this Asian critter: racoon dog.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raccoon_dog

First time a I saw one was pulling my car into the driveway in a remote
Chuncheongbuk-do area and it looked like a rabid racoon with it's reflective eyes in the middle of the night.

kimchi_pizza · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 1:07 am Post subject:

*hic* goshdamsh freacknssh doublt postsh..*hiccup*