Urban wildlife - an overview

Don Fletcher

Abstract

A summary is provided of the urban wildlife management program run by the ACT Parks and Conservation Service in Canberra, followed by discussion of general principles of urban wildlife management.

At first sight the day to day interaction of the community with urban wildlife could be seen in terms of:

• 'a problem' of having to make hundreds of responses to thousands of telephone calls.
• the confrontation associated with some urban wildlife such as swooping magpies threatening young children on their way to school, or a snake in the backyard; and
• numerous individual animals requiring attention

It is more appropriate to view urban wildlife in the following ways:

• as contributing to conservation of species and communities throughout their natural range;
• as enhancing enjoyment, recreation and aesthetic appreciation of the urban environment;
• as contributing to a sense of human well-being because of the presence of urban wildlife;
• as an opportunity for effective education;
• as wildlife populations to be protected and managed (as well as individual animals);
• as providing one of the few remaining opportunities for urban people to accept elements of nature not under human control; and
• as providing people who care for injured or orphaned animals with health, emotional and social benefits equivalent to those associated with more conventional companion animals.

   

About the Author

Don Fletcher
Act Parks and Conservation Service
P.O. Box 1119
Tuggeranong ACT 2901

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