Chapter 6 Conservation Goals and Priorities
Wildlife conservation in urban areas necessarily relates to managing human-wildlife interactions. Wildlife disturbance by people can cause wildlife to abandon habitats and is more common in developed and developing areas. Nuisance wildlife problems can occur when wildlife is attracted to human dwellings for food or shelter, when wildlife populations are enhanced by the presence of humans, and when wildlife is displaced by human development. Wildlife species that can be compatible with human development include some bats, foxes, Raccoons, Opossums, squirrels, deer, pigeons, European Starlings, House Sparrows, Canada Geese, and Chimney Swifts, among others. Many wildlife damage problems can be addressed by changing the perceptions and expectations of homeowners about living with wildlife. Many human-wildlife conflicts can be addressed by changing the perceptions and expectations of homeowners who live with wildlife. Though most nuisance wildlife issues may not relate directly to a conservation concern (e.g., a listed species or an endangered habitat), our efforts to solve nuisance wildlife problems are critical to improving the perception of urban wildlife issues in general. The NCWRC has developed nuisance wildlife recommendations and guidelines on some issues (e.g., resident Canada Geese, Black Bear). Nuisance guidelines developed by the US Department of Agriculture (Hygnstrom et al. 1994) are another key source of information used by NCWRC outreach specialists for wildlife damage- related inquiries. Certified damage control agent programs should be supported, and periodic reevaluation of the methods used for the removal of sensitive or tracked species (such as bats and some snakes) may be necessary to ensure the most appropriate handling of these sensitive species. Wild animals can be reservoirs or hosts for diseases that can be transmitted to humans and domestic animals, such as rabies, distemper, tuberculosis, and leprosy. When there is contact between humans, domestic animals, and wildlife, there will be more risk for transmission of some zoonotic diseases (Bosch et al . 2013; Sharma et al. 2013; Schrenzel 2012; Calver et al. 2011; Loughry et al. 2009; Infectious Disease News 2008) . Outdoor pets are at an increased risk of contracting diseases from infected wildlife. Public service announcements, wildlife and hunter education programs, and coordination with local public health agencies are important avenues for sharing information about safety practices and local pet vaccination programs. The NCWRC, NC State University Cooperative Extension Service, USDA Wildlife Services, and county and local wildlife control officers play a role in responding to wildlife damage problems (e.g., crop depredation, flooding). Continued coordination and improved sharing of resources among these entities will make response efforts more effective. 6.3.4.4 Strategies and Recommendations There are many conservation, management, education, outreach, and recreation programs available statewide from a variety of organizations such as local municipal parks and recreation
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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