Dear
Friend,
As you're a valued supporter of HSHV and of animals, we'd love to share timely topics on animal welfare with you. Following is the fourth edition in a regular series of blog posts by HSHV's CEO/President.
The wild within
by Tanya Hilgendorf, CEO/President of the Humane Society of Huron Valley
The
other day my daughter was up during the wee hours doing homework in the kitchen
and in walked one of our cats…or so she thought. When she looked up she found herself face to
face with a small but plump raccoon, also a juvenile. They looked at each other, equally surprised,
and ran in opposite directions.
This
clever little fellow had used our dog door to come in for a tasty meal. (Solving the recent mystery of a suddenly empty cat food bowl and strangely muddy water dish.)
But
while my daughter was jarred by this unexpected encounter, there was no cause for
alarm. He was just one of many animals
that live in the wooded area around our home -- known to him as his home. He meant us no harm. The solution was not a panicked call to an animal
removal company to have him -- or some other totally innocent raccoon --
trapped and killed.
For
wildlife issues such as these, the most effective solution is also the humane one. One that usually involves understanding, patience, persistence and ingenuity. In my case,
however, the answer was quite simple:
lock the dog door at night.
One
can’t underestimate the appeal of a cheap and easy meal. This is true for human (Hello, world full of
fast food chains!) as well as non-human animals. So solutions often involve removing, or
deterring from, the inviting meals inadvertently put out.
Living
in harmony with nature requires understanding and recognition that we share the
world with other animals also just trying to survive.
I
love that Ann Arbor is a community that cherishes nature. We are so lucky to have 159 beautiful parks
and nature areas interwoven throughout the city. But so much natural space within a densely
populated city brings challenges.
Wildlife
are an integral part of the natural landscape. In the Ann Arbor area, one may come across turtles, frogs, snakes,
hawks, blue heron, deer, geese, ducks, swans, raccoons, chipmunks, rabbits, opossums, foxes, coyotes, and even bald eagles.
For
some of us, this is a source of wonder and awe. But for others, it can cause frustration and fear. Particularly when there is a dearth of
knowledge of wildlife behavior and how to handle conflicts that may arise.
This
is not unique to Ann Arbor, however. The
human population explosion, urban sprawl and drastic decline in rural and
forested areas throughout the U.S. have tasked many communities similarly. We are living in increasingly closer proximity
with wild animals. And with so few
people having any country-life experience, it can be too close for
comfort.
Many
animals live right underneath our noses without us ever knowing it. But as they adapt to our changing world, they
find new ways to survive. Unfortunately
they can’t see property lines, don’t know they are eating prized plants and
don’t realize they are invading our homes. They are simply searching for what we all need – food and a safe, warm
place to sleep and have our babies.
Some
friends recently sent me pictures from New York City – Manhattan no less.
It’s
part of a big educational campaign. It’s on buses, subways, and billboards. Public officials want their residents to know they are sharing their
community with wildlife. They want to
improve awareness and thereby create realistic expectations and greater tolerance.
So
the question is what has nature-loving Ann Arbor done to help residents
understand and address the challenges of having wildlife in our parks and yards?
The
answer: Nothing.
I
am not just harping on our ill-conceived approach to deer. I am talking about public education related
to all backyard wildlife that are often labeled as “nuisances” and that some unrealistically
think can be eliminated.
We
can try to shoot them, trap them or poison them away. But those are not just inhumane, morally
questionable acts that fly in the face of our normally peace-promoting and
compassionate community, they are wasteful quick fixes that fix little. Because the fact is, love them
or hate them, they are here to stay.
Obviously
we at HSHV love animals. (And we mean all
animals. Not just the ones that sleep in
our beds and steal our cookies.) We have
a 121-year history of protecting and promoting respect for animal life. Throughout our history our focus has been any
individual or group of animals under assault. The “underdogs,” if you will.
For
the last 50 years or so, we've provided 24/7 emergency services for sick and
injured wildlife and more recently added Humane Wildlife Services aimed at
helping homeowners address conflicts with wildlife.
As
such, I feel confident in saying that most community members care about wildlife. I see their
compassion every day. They do not want
to see needless suffering or killing. Almost always hoping for the same thing…that we can save them.
But
residents need help knowing their wild neighbors and what to do
when it gets personal, and feelings of fear and frustration take over.
Because
while human/wildlife conflict is inevitable, it is also solvable!
Let’s take the next step in
loving nature by investing in improving our community’s understanding of the
wildlife that lives within and work towards the peaceful co-existence that we
all deserve.
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