Peaceful Coexistence with Urban Wildlife
Social Benefits
Edmonton’s geography includes a biodiverse river valley, multiple large parks, and vast landscapes, making it a desirable habitat for wildlife. The subject of peaceful cohabitation between humans and urban wildlife is one that deserves our attention as it is an ongoing process. As the human population continues to expand and encroach into wildlife habitat, encounters between humans and wildlife will continue to increase. Wild animals play an important role in the world we live in by providing intrinsic joy, invaluable recreational activities, and breathtaking experiences to many people, as well as by playing vital roles in the biodiversity and ecology of Edmonton.
This website aims to provide Edmonton's citizens with information, knowledge, and measures of cohabiting with their wildlife community.
Environmental Benefits
Each of Edmonton's urban wildlife species plays an important role in maintaining the biodiversity and ecology of this wonderful city. It is important to learn and understand the environmental benefits that wildlife play in order to build positive associations with urban wildlife species.
Canada geese play an important role in their ecosystem by dispersing seeds of the various plants they consume. Therefore, although Canada goose feces are considered as a nuisance or health concern to many people, it is imperative to recognize that they also benefit the environment.
Coyotes have a positive effect within the ecosystem by balancing populations. Coyotes are a keystone species, meaning that their presence or absence has a significant impact on the surrounding biological community. Coyotes can have a regulatory effect on smaller predator populations, which allows prey of the smaller predator species to survive.
Corvids benefit the environment by eating many of the insects and larvae that damage farmers' crops, wild vegetation, and neighbourhood gardens. By preying on the insects and larvae, more vegetables, fruits, berries, and flowers will grow and provide food for other wildlife and for humans. Additionally, the presence of corvids, such as American crows, often deter predatory bird species, such as the Swainson’s hawk, from inhabiting the area. This protects small animals that would likely be preyed upon in absence of the corvids.
Wildlife Benefits
Many human-wildlife conflicts finish with the wildlife on the losing end. It is crucial that people understand that wildlife are merely trying to survive and propagate their species; they do not have devious intentions to harm, threaten, or inconvenience people. Achieving respectful coexistence with wildlife will benefit the animals by virtue of allowing for their survival and expression of natural behaviours, and by ensuring fewer incidents of harm, hostility, and unnecessary interference by people.
Edmonton’s geography includes a biodiverse river valley, multiple large parks, and vast landscapes, making it a desirable habitat for wildlife. The subject of peaceful cohabitation between humans and urban wildlife is one that deserves our attention as it is an ongoing process. As the human population continues to expand and encroach into wildlife habitat, encounters between humans and wildlife will continue to increase. Wild animals play an important role in the world we live in by providing intrinsic joy, invaluable recreational activities, and breathtaking experiences to many people, as well as by playing vital roles in the biodiversity and ecology of Edmonton.
This website aims to provide Edmonton's citizens with information, knowledge, and measures of cohabiting with their wildlife community.
Environmental Benefits
Each of Edmonton's urban wildlife species plays an important role in maintaining the biodiversity and ecology of this wonderful city. It is important to learn and understand the environmental benefits that wildlife play in order to build positive associations with urban wildlife species.
Canada geese play an important role in their ecosystem by dispersing seeds of the various plants they consume. Therefore, although Canada goose feces are considered as a nuisance or health concern to many people, it is imperative to recognize that they also benefit the environment.
Coyotes have a positive effect within the ecosystem by balancing populations. Coyotes are a keystone species, meaning that their presence or absence has a significant impact on the surrounding biological community. Coyotes can have a regulatory effect on smaller predator populations, which allows prey of the smaller predator species to survive.
Corvids benefit the environment by eating many of the insects and larvae that damage farmers' crops, wild vegetation, and neighbourhood gardens. By preying on the insects and larvae, more vegetables, fruits, berries, and flowers will grow and provide food for other wildlife and for humans. Additionally, the presence of corvids, such as American crows, often deter predatory bird species, such as the Swainson’s hawk, from inhabiting the area. This protects small animals that would likely be preyed upon in absence of the corvids.
Wildlife Benefits
Many human-wildlife conflicts finish with the wildlife on the losing end. It is crucial that people understand that wildlife are merely trying to survive and propagate their species; they do not have devious intentions to harm, threaten, or inconvenience people. Achieving respectful coexistence with wildlife will benefit the animals by virtue of allowing for their survival and expression of natural behaviours, and by ensuring fewer incidents of harm, hostility, and unnecessary interference by people.