Opinion: Moving from conflict to coexistence with wildlife

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In May, a young bear kept Dorval on alert for a day. Once captured, his eventual fate outraged many Quebecers. In September, a British Columbia woman was fined $ 60,000 for feeding a black bear, contrary to provincial law. That bear was also killed. Although bears are in the news, deer, raccoons, geese, coyotes and countless other species, large and small, are involved in conflicting interactions with humans.

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The end of the year is traditionally a time for reflection. And one of the things that we, as members of a society privileged to live in a country with so much natural wealth, should reflect on is our relationship with wildlife. The expansion of urban areas and the increasing human encroachment of natural habitats result in a greater number of such encounters. Obviously, there is a big difference in context between a moose crossing Décarie Blvd. and one destroying a fence at a cabin in the Laurentians. We cannot face all situations in the same way. But there are three principles that should be applied more broadly to how we manage our interactions with wildlife: tolerance, prevention, and awareness.

When faced with an uncomfortable situation that involves an animal, we tend to be intolerant and react quickly, especially if the situation affects our safety, comfort and habitual way of life. Most of the time, it is the animal that pays the price. We must accept that sharing space with wildlife can bring occasional annoyance or frustration, and focus on the benefits. Assessing the real costs and risks of our interactions with wildlife will often lead us to the conclusion that action may not be necessary at all. On an individual level, you don’t have to be a biologist to spend time observing an animal’s behavior; Doing so will foster a sense of appreciation for our wild neighbors and will likely lead to greater tolerance.

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Of course, tolerance certainly has limitations, for example, when there is a rabid or aggressive animal in the city. Which brings me to the second principle: prevention. As the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Reacting is costly, potentially dangerous, and compromises well-being (stress can escalate rapidly for both the animals and humans involved). Preparation can also involve costs, but these can be budgeted for. Thinking ahead will also reveal knowledge gaps and areas where resources are insufficient.

Because food attracts wildlife, proper management of food scraps and garbage in general is one of the main ways to prevent human-wildlife conflict. Obviously, deliberately feeding wildlife is counterproductive to safe and healthy relationships with larger and potentially more aggressive species, especially in residential areas. It can lead to habituation, and the animal loses its fear of humans, thus endangering both humans and themselves.

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The third principle is knowledge, or in other words, science. Through studies of ecology, physiology, and animal behavior, we can assess how a species perceives and interacts with its environment. These types of projects often seem abstract and theoretical at first, but can definitely be included in conservation efforts. Armed with this knowledge, we will manage the territory more intelligently (for example, by planning wildlife corridors), develop mitigation methods with more precision, and use resources optimally. Quebec is fortunate to have exceptional biologists and technicians at its universities, government, and many conservation organizations, and we must rely on their expertise.

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Animals have been killed too often because we didn’t tolerate them, we acted carelessly causing an avoidable problem, or we just didn’t know any better. I call on the authorities and relevant actors to invest in public education, prevention and research. This will be a significant and essential step towards the transition from conflict with animals to coexistence between humans and wildlife.

Louis Lazure is a biology Ph.D. candidate and public scholar at Concordia University and is a research coordinator at Granby Zoo, specializing in animal behavior, species conservation, and human-wildlife interactions.