The humane approach to human-wildlife conflict is based on three general principles:
- Respect for the environment
- Tolerance and understanding of living things
- A willingness to resolve conflicts using nonlethal means
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Appreciating the natural environment we share with other living things is one of the most important components of wildlife conflict resolution. Often the first and best defense is to let natural forces resolve the issue without human intervention. Human tolerance and understanding are also crucial since many so-called wildlife "problems" arise out of our irrational fears. For example, realizing that a backyard raccoon is not a threat but a member of a natural community removes the immediate impulse to have the raccoon removed.
Nonlethal conflict resolution is an area most people have only just begun to investigate and understand. The following six-step evaluation will help you resolve wildlife conflicts safely and humanely.
Determine the problem—and consider whether it is a problem at all. Learning about the habits of your wild neighbors will help you decide. For example, if a family of woodchucks moves into the backyard, will they attack your child or your pet? Educating yourself about the natural history of these animals will help you see that they aren't a threat.
If there is a problem, collect information to better deal with the problem. It is necessary to positively identify the species involved, the extent of the damage, how long it's been happening, whether there are young animals present, and what can be done to resolve the issue in a humane and permanent way.
Assess the seriousness and extent of the problem. Important considerations involve safety or health concerns to people or pets, likelihood of recurrence, and whether the damage appears to be seasonal or ongoing.
Take action, but only after all the facts have been collected. Taking action should be one of your last steps, and it should not have to involve killing animals. Exclusion, environmentally sound repellents, changing human cultural practices, and habitat modification are all viable, nonlethal strategies.
Evaluation. Did your action resolve the problem or merely address the symptoms? Your solution should get at the underlying cause of the problem and be effective over the long-term.
Seek help. You may not be able to resolve the problem by yourself. Click on the links below for information on where to buy appropriate products or seek help with sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife. You may also visit our Solving Problems with Your Wild Neighbors section to learn about how to solve common problems with wild neighbors safely and humanely.
Click here to learn about Humane Wildlife Services, The HSUS' wildlife-conflict solution service, which is currently available to homeowners and businesses in select areas of the United States.
Questions? Contact Wild Neighbors™ at wildlife@humanesociety.org.
Updated Nov. 21, 2007
