UNLESS SOMEONE LIKE YOU CARES A WHOLE AWFUL LOT, NOTHING IS GOING TO GET BETTER IT'S NOT - Dr. Seuss
Urban Conflict Wildlife Species
Every species is reliant on four needs: Food, Water, Shelter, and Space.
While urban neighbourhoods have plenty of food sources: from garbage to decorative gardens, available water, and cohabitation in manmade structures, they do not have the space available for a continual growth in their population. Without natural predators to lessen the size of the population, natural balances such as disease take effect on an overpopulated species.
Human intervention is necessary as many of the overpopulation problems are created by us.
Natural predators would remove the overabundance of animals, except that we have enforcement available to keep us safe from predators. Most people don’t have a problem with a few fluffy rabbits hopping across the sidewalk to enter a garden. Some people may even welcome the wildlife with food. However, a hungry coyote walking down a road when your children are walking home from school is a major concern. There are many available methods to reduce urban wildlife conflicts.
Prevention
It begins with Education.
The majority of individuals care for the welfare of animals, yet many lack the diverse education required of the 1138 species of vertebrates in British Columbia. This staggering number demonstrates that you couldn’t possibly know the entirety that is the vast diversity which is the wildlife of B.C. The best place to start with gaining an education about wildlife is remember Rule #1 – All Wildlife is the property of the Crown. When seeking out information about wildlife, use the resources made available by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, and the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service. Many non-profit organizations aid in spreading education about wildlife and are an amazing resource to use*.
DON’T FEED THE WILDLIFE!
There is a word for feeding wildlife – Baiting. The next time you choose to break the law and feed wildlife, ask yourself, why am I baiting this animal? Is my own personal desire to see a cute little animal feeding more important than the safety and well-being of the animal? If you love wildlife, take the time to educate yourself about them and learn that the best of intentions can have detrimental effects on wildlife species.
Remove attractants!
It may be convenient to leave a bowl of pet food outside for your cat or dog, however this is a major wildlife attractant. Unfortunately, wildlife is not only attracted to your personal property, but entire neighbourhoods become the foraging grounds for urban wildlife. Keep your garbage sealed and away from the access of wildlife. With the majority of North Americans diets containing high levels and sugars, fats, and salts, it is no wonder that wildlife can become addicted to it as well.
A Black Bear that has been habitually feeding on garbage will become increasingly brazen to human interactions to access this food source. If a person becomes a cranky beast without a Snickers, what does a cranky beast turn into without a Snickers?... food for thought.
Block off potential habitat entry ways.
The Ministry of Environment and Animal Damage Control Specialists offer advice on how to seal off potential habitat entry ways. Whether it be under your deck, in your attic, chimney, shed, or rock garden, there are various ways to prevent problems before they occur. Sometimes despite all efforts to seal off an area, wildlife are persistent and find a way. The services of an Animal Control Damage Specialist (Wildlife Trapper) will be required for removal of the species in many cases.
A Beaver makes a home under a wharf despite attempts to seal out wildlife.
The most effective means to have a positive role with wildlife is to observe and report. To make the necessary adjustments to best protect species through the BC Wildlife Act, wildlife biologists require accurate data. With limited funding, the amount of data that can be collected during studies is also limited. There are far more wildlife species than there are people collecting up to date data on these species.
Report
Click HERE to report Incidental Observations of Wildlife to the BC Ministry of Environment.
“BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoT) statistics show that from 1998 to 2007, 93,853 animals were reported killed on BC highways. MoT estimates that this number may represent only 25% to 35% of the real number of wild animals killed. The actual total of wild animals killed in the ten year period from 1992 to 2002 could be as high as 200,508 or more, which is a staggering number.
This difference between reported deaths and actual deaths can be attributed to animals dying outside the highway right-of-way, animal remains being removed by natural scavengers or predators, animal remains being obscured by snow, vegetation etc., animal remains becoming unrecognizable after being run over by successive vehicles, and larger animals (primarily deer or moose) being removed by passing motorists.
Approximately 80% of wildlife vehicle collisions involve deer. Moose, elk, bears, coyotes and other wildlife make up the remaining 20%. Collisions with smaller wildlife species are extremely common, but as they cause less damage to private property or human life, they rarely appear in official statistics.” – Wildlife Collision Prevention Program
