Human-Wildlife Conflicts: Humane vs. Lethal Methods

Humans have evolved to a dominant position on the planet only within the past few hundred years. Prior to that time, wild animals ruled the oceans, forests, tundra, and deserts. Human dominance has caused habitat to become a scarce commodity for wildlife. The need to forage for food and shelter in areas dominated by humans has created human-wildlife conflict. Hunting, trapping, poisoning and other cruel forms of treatment of wild animals are all too often the chosen option for federal and state wildlife agencies, municipalities, corporations, and individuals. Humane, non-lethal solutions exist for all forms of human-wildlife conflict.

Did you know that the federal government is the agency that owns the largest number of leghold traps in the world? Yes, your taxpayer's dollars—to the tune of more than $50 million each year—are spent on various forms of animal cruelty including thousands of leghold traps, neck snares, and body crushing traps by the US Dept. of Agriculture's (USDA) Wildlife Services department. Other methods used include poisons, denning (the killing of coyote pups in their dens with poison gas and/or clubbing), hounding, shooting, and aerial gunning. This is the case despite the development of nonlethal forms of animal control and scientific evidence that lethal control is ineffective.

Some Sad Examples:

Deer. In the United States, whitetail deer in the East and mule deer in the West are losing habitat by the minute. In Florida, the diminutive Key deer are actually endangered. In Pennsylvania, between a third and a half of the state's whitetail deer (mostly bucks) are killed each year by so-called sportsmen. This slaughter takes place primarily for trophy racks of antlers. Despite the enormous number of animals killed, complaints of shrubbery damage and deer-car collisions continue to mount so sharpshooters are often commissioned from the USDA's Wildlife Services and other professional killing groups to increase the carnage. Rifle and bow hunting leave many animals to die slow agonizing deaths from their wounds. Despite the fact that lethal methods are basically ineffective, their use proliferates due to the powerful pressure of the hunting and gun lobbyists.

“Wild” Horses. The beauty and grace of horses have captured the human imagination since our ancestors first painted images on cave walls. While wild horses, zebras and asses were once abundant throughout the Americas, Asia and Africa, there are only seven truly wild species left today—most of which have been listed as endangered. In areas of the United States domesticated horses, released hundreds of years ago and now running free, populate areas in North Carolina (Assateague and Chincoteague Islands),Nevada, Montana, and other states. Neither truly wild horses nor truly domestic, these “ferals” are rounded up yearly, sold to new owners, found to be difficult to socialize, and often sent to the slaughterhouse.

Buffalo(Bison). While the majestic buffalo (bison) graces US currency as a symbol of American strength and freedom, the last wild herd of these animals is being slaughtered by US government agencies. Tragically, their allotted habitat—Yellowstone National Park—does not provide sufficient winter range so animals migrate into other lands to forage for food and shelter. Therein lies the problem, as the buffalo unwittingly enter a conflict zone with Montana livestock ranchers. In 1996-'97, nearly 1100 buffalo were slaughtered over the winter when they migrated out of the park and into Montana. The slaughter combined with deaths from the unusually severe winter, resulted in a loss of more than half of the Yellowstone herd in a matter of months. This tragedy resulted in the formation of the Buffalo field Campaign—a group of dedicated volunteers who live with the Buffalo,monitor their movements, and document and publicize the cruel actions taken against the animals by the MT Department of Livestock (DOL) and the National Park Service (NPS).

Humane Alternatives and Wildlife Contraception: Control For Wild Animal Populations

Just as we spay-neuter dogs and cats, modern technology has provided us with a means to inoculate wild animals against pregnancy. Wildlife contraception has proven an effective, safe and humane means for the control of over a hundred species of animals including wild horses, deer and buffalo. There are several forms of wildlife contraceptive vaccines—such as PZP (a nonhormonal vaccine) and GnRH (hormone suppressants). With public support and pressure, wildlife contraception will become the future method for animal population control.

Mobilization for Animals PA has initiated and funded a Buffalo contraception research program at the Trexler Lehigh Game Preserve in Allentown, Pennsylvania in conjunction ZooMontana's Science and Conservation Center. For more information about wildlife contraception using the PZP vaccine click here.

Mobilization for Animals PA is proud to join as a sponsor in the creation of the Bunny Ammon Wildlife Sanctuary. Residual structures from the former animal shelter must be demolished and removed. Derelict buildings present a physical hazard as well as a fire and environmental (toxic) danger to people and wildlife. Early estimates are approximately $50,000 to $100,000 for the project. It is hoped that foundations and individuals would contribute to this important phase of reverting the land back to its natural state as a forest. Please join us in this effort to give habitat back to wildlife.

Animal Resistant Gardening

Your garden landscape can be altered to discourage the level of animal browsing. The selection and placement of plants can either attract animals or repel them. For example, creating a barrier of tall hedges will reduce a deer's view of the garden. Fruit trees are a natural attractant so all fruit should be harvested and fallen fruit should be removed promptly. Grass and underbrush should be kept trimmed. Attractants can be surrounded by repellent plants.

• Repellent Plants: Catnip, Chives, Garlic, Honeybrush, Lavender, Onion, Sage, Spearmint, Thyme, and Yarrow.

• Resistant Trees, Shrubs and Vines: Bottle brush, Daphne, Douglas Fir, Euonymous, Hackberry, Holly, jasmine, Maple, Oleander, Limber Pine, Pinon Pine, Pomegranate, Rhododendron, Wild Lilac, Rockrose, Santolina, Scotch Broom, and Blue Spruce.

• Resistant Flowers: Black-eyed Susan, Chrysanthemum, Daffodil, Fosglove, Hyacinth, Iceland Poppy, Iris, Lavender, Lily of the Nile, Oriental Poppy, Snowflake, and Zinnia.

• White Flower Farms provides an exhaustive list of plants that are less palatable to deer and other animals.

Reducing Deer-Car Collisions

Did you now that since the PA Game Commission manipulated the state's Elk herd to increase Elk hunting opportunities for hunters, there has been an increase in Elk-car and Elk-train collisions! Data from the Erie Insurance Company documents the positive correlation between hunting and deer-car collisions. Increased hunting activities near roads and highways; urban sprawl extending through wildlife habitat; and cars driving at faster speeds have all contributed to the frequency of deer-car collisions. People, corporations and municipalities are working together to make the roadways safer for human and nonhuman animals by some of the following techniques in high risk areas:

• Highway warning reflectors

• Deer or wildlife crossing signs

• Lowering speed limits

• Cutting roadside vegetation to discourage roadside browsing

• Fencing and highway overpasses and underpasses

• General motors provides a Night Vision infrared system that slows drivers to see down the road up to 3 to 5 times farther than with traditional headlamps.

What You Can Do:

• Heed wildlife warning signs

• In situations where there is forest or field on both sides(cover to cover, no barriers) of the road, scan for wildlife

• Use your peripheral vision to scan for wildlife especially during dawn, dusk and in the middle of the night.

• At night, watch for reflection from the eyes of deer and other nocturnal animals like raccoons and foxes.

• If a deer or other animals “freezes” in your headlights, STOP and try turning your headlights off and on so that the animal can pass.

• If one animals crosses the road ahead of you—STOP IMMEDIATELY AND WATCH CAREFULLY—there will probably be others about to cross.

• Be very cautious during hunting season (fall to early winter). Hunters flush deer out of the woodlands into the roadways.

Fencing. Both perimeter fencing and mesh netting can be very effective in discouraging animal browsing on your property. For more information go to www.bennersgardens.com

Chemical And Behavioral Repellents. An evergrowing assortment of chemical and behavioral repellents are available from stores and mail order/internet catalogs.

Do not use animal urine based repellents. Animal urine production is a cruelty-based industry. Animals live their lives in deplorable conditions so that their urine can be collected and sold. This is the case for horses (PMU- pregnant mare urine) in the production of Premarin (Pre-pregnant, mar-mare, and in -urine) or predators (bobcats, foxes, coyotes etc.) in the production of wildlife repellents. Boycott animal urine based products! Cruelty-free repellents include: odor repellents made from ammonia (Hinder), citrus scent (Deer chaser) and treated sewage (Milorganite) and taste repellents made from castor oil and capsaicin (N.I.M.B.Y.), and denatonium benzoate (Tree Guard, Ropel, and No-Bite Tablets). Do not apply these repellents to food crops unless specifically labeled as approved.

Behavioral repellents involve fear tactics using:

• Visual stimuli like strobe lights, mylar tape, scarecrows, and scare-eye balloons.

• Auditory stimuli like ultrasonic devices and loud noises.

• Motion activated water sprays will also deter wildlife as well as companion animals.