Cities around the world serve as habitat for . These species can inspire and fascinate us, helping to enrich our urban experience. But they can also create conflicts ranging from disease transmission to, in rare cases, animal attacks on people and pets. The Urban Wildlife Institute (UWI) at Lincoln Park Zoo formed to conduct the science needed to ensure that humans and wildlife can co-exist in urban areas, and that cities can contribute to conservation around the world.

Despite the rich tradition of ecological research, there is a serious lack of data on urban wildlife occupancy and diversity- particularly across regions. To address this shortage of information, UWI pioneered a new strategy for long-term data collection on urban species and has assembled the largest repository for urban wildlife data in the world. We use non-invasive methods to consistently monitor wildlife species at field sites along urban to rural gradients across Chicago. Our research helps inform urban planning in Chicago and continues to receive tremendous media attention. Though we have advanced scientific understanding about some urban-dwelling species, to holistically protect wildlife on an urbanizing planet we need to think much bigger.

Figure 1. Current UWIN Partners

With partners throughout the United States and Canada, we are working to understand urban wildlife species across North America, and ultimately the world. Only by collecting and comparing data across cities can we understand larger patterns in how wildlife occupy city landscapes. We are seeking partners in cities Current UWIN Partners around the world as we build the first UWIN Partner City Lead Agency global network collecting urban Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta Coyote Project wildlife data. This network, titled the Berry College Emory University Urban Wildlife Information Network Austin, Texas Texas Parks and Wildlife (UWIN), will provide the tools St. Edwards University Boston, Massachusetts Bridgewater State University scientists, city planners, and wildlife Buffalo, New York Canisius College managers need to finally understand, Chicago, Illinois Lincoln Park Zoo’s Urban Wildlife Institute conserve, and manage wildlife on an Denver, Colorado University of Colorado Denver urbanizing planet. Presently UWIN Edmonton, Alberta The City of Edmonton University of Alberta consists of partners in 31 urban regions Fort Collins, Colorado Colorado State University around the United States and Canada. Indianapolis, Indiana Butler University’s Center for Iowa City, Iowa University of Iowa Jackson, Mississippi Mississippi State University Extension Examples of the kinds of questions Little Rock, Arkansas Arkansas Game and Fish Commission UWIN will enable us to answer Hendrix University include: Long Beach, California California State University Long Beach Los Angeles, California National Park Service • What motivates a to United States Geological Survey inhabit an attic? Madison, Wisconsin University of Wisconsin Madison • Why are so many animals Manhattan, Kansas Kansas State University struck by cars? National Capital George Mason University Oakland, California Conservation Society of California dba • How can we build successful Oakland Zoo wildlife corridors within urban regions? Pasadena, California Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy Occidental College • How do we conserve rare Phoenix, Arizona Arizona State University species across an urbanizing planet? Portland, Oregon The Samara Group LLC • What are the neighborhood Portland State University Audubon Portland characteristics (physical, socio- economic, etc.) that attract certain Rochester, New York Seneca Park Zoo Salt Lake City, Utah University of Utah species to certain areas? Sanford, Florida Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens San Francisco, California San Francisco Parks Department Saskatoon, Saskatchewan University of Saskatchewan Wild About Saskatoon Meewasin Valley Authority Seattle, Washington Seattle University Woodland Park Zoo St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis College of Pharmacy Washington University’s Tyson Research Center Tacoma, Washington University of Washington Tacoma Toronto, Ontario University of Toronto Wilmington, Delaware Brandywine Zoo

REQUIREMENTS FOR URBAN WILDLIFE INFORMATION NETWORK PARTNERS

We understand not all partners will have the same resources available to them, and not everyone will be able to maintain a study the size of UWI’s network in Chicago. We seek to open a dialogue with all prospective partners regarding how we can help get data collection started. Some general guidelines are: • Partners should be willing to maintain at least 25-40 research field sites where some local wildlife species are monitored (with motion-triggered cameras and/or other monitoring methods) • Sites should be distributed along an urban to less urban gradient (UWIN staff will be happy to assist with site selection) • Sites should be monitored regularly (seasonal sampling preferred) • Data should be shared with partners, as outlined by data sharing agreements crafted by UWIN • Partners should be willing to collaborate on social media and other PR releases

WHAT DO OUR PARTNERS RECEIVE AS MEMBERS OF THE URBAN WILDLIFE INFORMATION NETWORK?

As part of this collaborative project, you’ll receive: • Access to data from across the network • Opportunities to author highly impactful publications • Training and guidance from our staff, including quantitative ecologists, on: • Data gathering • Coordination with landowners • Data management • Outreach to media outlets and local constituents • Assistance with data analysis and publication as needed • Media attention and added visibility for your projects • Education curriculum for all ages, including local projects for students ranging from 4th grade classrooms to graduate dissertations • An increased ability to connect your community with local wildlife • Access to a network of like-minded colleagues interested in advancing the field

CONCLUSION

The world stands at a precipice—how will we use our in the future? Will they be places only for people, or can we create functional urban ecosystems, with wildlife as critical components of our cities? The Urban Wildlife Information Network is ready to make a difference for urban residents and wildlife communities around the world, but we need partners to help us expand our reach. Our partners have tremendous input into the growth, direction, and impact of this program, and are instrumental in pushing us forward to benefit ecological knowledge, urban design, and human-wildlife coexistence.

We look forward to hearing from you, and to working together to understand our planet’s urban wildlife!

Figure 2. Example study designs for UWIN partners