From armadillos and alligators to mice and skunks -- whatever the conflict is,
new book has humane and lasting solutions
Wild Neighbors: The Humane Approach to Living with Wildlife
By: John Hadidian
With: M. Baird, M. Brasted, L. Nolfo-Clements, D. Pauli, and L.Simon
The Humane Society Press, the publishing division of The Humane Society of the United States, has announced the release of the book Wild Neighbors: The Humane Approach to Living with Wildlife. The primary author is John Hadidian, director of urban wildlife programs for The HSUS.
Wild Neighbors: The Humane Approach to Living with Wildlife is the revised second edition of a book first published in 1997 which has become a standard reference for individuals and communities faced with resolving encounters with wild animals who find their way into yards, gardens, houses, parks and playgrounds. Addressing the behavior of more than 35 wildlife species, the new book discusses how to humanely and effectively resolve a wildlife "problem," small or large. The book is a critical resource for homeowners to understand their wild neighbors and resolve conflicts permanently. Advice focuses on how to properly and accurately define a wildlife problem; determine what type of animal is causing it; identify the damage; effectively take action for a humane and lasting solution; and proactively avoid future conflicts.
"In 1997, when this book was first published, it was a timely and important tool in mitigating human-wildlife conflicts," says Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "Now, with the march of human development, the message in this book is more pertinent than ever. The wild animals in our communities enrich our lives and represent a vital link to the natural world. Yet, our residential and commercial developments, our roads, and our modes of transportation often have life-threatening effects on these creatures."
Primary author of the book, John Hadidian explains, "In order to properly resolve conflicts between wildlife and humans, people need to understand the root cause of problems and the behavior of animals, so that appropriate and successful measures to be taken. Our focus is on humane solutions as morally and ethically correct concepts, grounded in logical, durable, and environmentally responsible tenets. We approach it through three basic principals that work -- respect for our environment; tolerance and understanding of living things; and intent to resolve conflicts using non-lethal means."
Humans displace wildlife by taking over their space and they in turn need to figure out how to adjust, survive, explore and exploit our urban environment. Co-existence is the practical and moral imperative we confront at a time when most Americans live in urban and suburban landscapes.
"A strong example of this is that coyotes only made their way to the Washington, DC area over the past two years," adds Hadidian. "When our first edition came out, that was not an issue in 1997. Similarly, Canada geese were part of a section in the earlier book that included other waterfowl. Now, the conflicts with them have expanded to the point that we have an entire chapter on geese."
There are 35 animals – each with their own chapter – covered in the book from all corners of the United States, including alligators, armadillos, bats, beavers, black bears, Canadian geese, coyotes, deer, mice, pigeons, raccoons, rats, skunks, snakes, squirrels, turtles, woodchucks and woodpeckers. Each section includes each animal's classification, range, habits and public health concerns – if any – followed by problems they may cause and practical, real solutions that work to resolve conflicts.
Wild Neighbors: The Humane Approach to Living with Wildlife
Published by Humane Society Press (www.humanesocietypress.org)
ISBN: 978-0-9748400-8-6 - Cover price: $27.95 - Paperback, 7" x 10" - 283 pages
Primary author: John Hadidian. Co-authors: wildlife specialists Margaret Baird, Maggie Brasted, Lauren Nolfo-Clements, Dave Pauli and Laura Simon.
About the book's primary author:
John Hadidian, director of Urban Wildlife programs for The HSUS, serves on the steering committee for the Human-Wildlife Conflict Collaboration, as well as the technical advisory committee of The HSUS Wildlife Land Trust and the Harmony Institute's Community Advisory Board. He is past chair of the urban wildlife working group of The Wildlife Society and is a member of the Washington Biologist's Field Club. He served on the national Wildlife Services advisory committee at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Human-Dominated Systems Directorate for the Department of State's Man and the Biosphere Program. He was an associate editor of the Journal of Urban Ecosystems, chair of the Montgomery County white-tailed deer task force, and a research associate with the Department of Anthropology at The Catholic University of America. Hadidian is an adjunct professor at Virginia Tech's Northern Virginia Center. He received a master's and doctorate degree in Primatology from The Pennsylvania State University and a bachelor's degree in Anthropology from The University of Arizona. He has participated in or led nearly 100 urban wildlife workshops and has published numerous scientific articles on wildlife issues.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization – backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at humanesociety.org.
