Urban Wildlife Control: It Starts in Our Own Backyard

WellBeing International WBI Studies Repository

2001

John Hadidian The Humane Society of the United States

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Recommended Citation Hadidian, J. (2001). Urban wildlife control: It starts in our own backyard. AV Magazine, 109(4), 20.

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nonlethal approaches that displace the offending raccoon, squirrel, or other animal as not only preferable but, in fact, more practical. It is more often the case than not that we find the ‘nuisance’ animal simply moving on to an alternate den site and continuing to live her own life in a way that causes neither injury nor insult to humans. The heart of the matter concerning urban wildlife is that unnecessary and needless deaths occur all too often because people do not understand that nonlethal solutions exist. This leads to what some have Urban Wildlife Control: called the ‘plight of urban wildlife.’ Misunderstanding, attitudes based on It Starts in Our Own Backyard fear or ignorance, and the absence of anywhere to turn for information all combine to make a deadly situation By John Hadidian, Ph.D., Director, Many are unrecognized victims of for many of our wild neighbors. Urban Wildlife Program, HSUS deliberate acts of cruelty or unthinking However, there is promise within the The first organized effort to deal with policies and practices that lead to unnec- plight. People are stepping forward to animal welfare and protection in the essary deaths. For wild animals in cities deal with the issues surrounding urban United States dates from Henry Bergh’s and towns, it seems we might as well be wildlife, and communities are mobilizing founding of the American Society for back in the times of Henry Bergh and to resolve their problems where they can the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals the start of the ASPCA. best be solved—at ground level. Wildlife (ASPCA) in the mid 1860s. Although In a strange way, urban wildlife suffers rehabilitation, once a back-yard-based motivated by a passionate concern for from what could be called benign operation, is becoming more of a force the fate of draft animals, Bergh’s involve- neglect. The state and federal agencies for awareness and change. Rehabilitators ment in animal protection extended to with authority for wild animals remain and activists are working to educate all horizons, and he was one of the first even today focused on traditional uses urbanites about their wild neighbors and to become involved in issues relating of wildlife (that is, primarily for con- to advocate for tolerance, understanding, to the welfare of wildlife. Concerns sumptive purposes) and for the most and humane approaches to resolving expressed to him and his organization in part ignore urban wildlife, which usually conflicts. Community-based programs the 1870s over the unprincipled slaughter cannot be recreationally or commercially such as GeesePeace™ are addressing of the American bison led to the ASPCA used. A homeowner with a raccoon larger and more complex issues with petitioning Congress for help in stop- problem or a community with concerns urban wildlife by creating positive ping this activity. Unfortunately, while about Canada geese on their soccer solutions and fostering community decried in many quarters in Washington, fields may find little more than advice involvement. the killing was allowed to continue, or a referral elsewhere for help. The largely because it was seen as an expedient To achieve the goal of humane referrals often lead to an individual who way to force Native Americans onto treatment for urban wildlife it will be traps ‘nuisance’ wildlife as a business reservations. Today, such thinking would necessary to work toward protection enterprise. Often called nuisance wildlife be unimaginable. Times have changed, of animals themselves as well as the control operators, or NWCOs, these we’re tempted to say, for the better. preservation of habitats that ensure they individuals may have no background True in some respects, but not in all. can survive. Clearly, urbanization is here with wildlife beyond that gained through to stay. Some fear it can only get worse, During Bergh’s time, most people recreational trapping or hunting experi- with more development and habitat lived in rural areas and practiced a ences. State licensing or testing for destruction, more roads, and more primarily agrarian lifestyle. Today, eight qualifications are more often absent alienation of people from the natural of every ten Americans live in cities or than present, and regulations requiring world. Others see hope as wild animals towns of 50,000 people or more. There humane treatment of captured wildlife become more and more a part of urban are places along both east and west are nonexistent. The traps used to communities. No matter which vision coasts where the very idea of ‘city’ has ‘control’ nuisance wildlife are often meant we have, we all share an obligation to to be expanded to include the gigantic to kill, and in many states thousands and work toward creating a humane and conurbations that extend across literally even tens of thousands of animals die caring world that can sustain both hundreds of miles and involve millions every year for no more offense than people and animals. There is perhaps of people. These same places provide having assumed an uncapped chimney or no more realistic way to work toward homes for millions of wild animals as hole into an attic that led to a safe haven. this goal than to be able to step well. Many are victims of development Where some see killing as the only out the door of our home and say, and displacement as humans expand ‘solution’ to such ‘problems,’ others see “We’ll start here.” AV their living spaces into the countryside.