tag:theconversation.com,2011:/uk/topics/urban-wildlife-18216/articlesUrban wildlife – The Conversation2024-03-21T02:05:02Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2223672024-03-21T02:05:02Z2024-03-21T02:05:02Z10 million animals die on our roads each year. Here’s what works (and what doesn’t) to cut the toll<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/576080/original/file-20240215-18-zoy3x1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C3050%2C2027&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/two-australian-kangaroos-hopping-fast-along-1404997343">Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>There’s almost no warning. A dark shape appears on the side of the road, then you feel a jolt as something goes under the car. Or worse, the shape rears up, hits the front of your vehicle, then slams into the windscreen. You have just experienced a wildlife-vehicle collision. </p>
<p>This gruesome scene plays out <a href="https://www.bbcearth.com/news/australias-road-kill-map">every night across Australia</a>.
When these collisions happen, many animals become instant roadkill. An <a href="https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/handle/2123/23121/Thesis%20updated%20for%20library%20submission.pdf?sequence=1">estimated 10 million</a> native mammals, reptiles, birds and other species are killed each year.</p>
<p>Others are injured and die away from the road. Some survive with <a href="https://theconversation.com/10-million-animals-are-hit-on-our-roads-each-year-heres-how-you-can-help-them-and-steer-clear-of-them-these-holidays-149733">terrible injuries and have to be euthanised</a>. The lucky ones might <a href="https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/who-should-i-contact-about-injured-wildlife/">be rescued</a> by groups such as <a href="https://wildliferescue.net.au/">Wildlife Rescue</a>, <a href="https://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/">Wildlife Victoria</a> and <a href="https://www.wires.org.au/">WIRES</a>.</p>
<p>Wildlife-vehicle collisions also increase the risk to whole populations of some threatened species, such as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1071/WR17143">Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo</a> on the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland.</p>
<p>People are affected, too. Human <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/1742-6723.13361">deaths and injuries</a> from these collisions are rising, with motorcyclists at greatest risk. Vehicle repairs are <a href="https://www.mynrma.com.au/-/media/wildlife-road-safety-report--final.pdf">inconvenient and costly</a>. Added to this is the distress for people when dealing with a dead or dying animal on the roadside.</p>
<p>How can we reduce the wildlife toll on our roads? Many measures have been tried and proven largely ineffective. However, other evidence-based approaches can help avoid collisions.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/2-biggest-threats-to-wombats-revealed-in-new-data-gathered-by-citizen-scientists-215713">2 biggest threats to wombats revealed in new data gathered by citizen scientists</a>
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<h2>Evidence for what works is limited</h2>
<p>Many communities are worried about the growing impacts of wildlife-vehicle collisions and are desperate for solutions. Recent reports from <a href="https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1822182/FULLTEXT01.pdf">Europe</a> and <a href="https://westerntransportationinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/4w7576_Huijser_etal_WVC_ConnectivityLiteratureReview_PooledFundStudyFinalReport_2021.pdf">North America</a> review the many methods to reduce such collisions. </p>
<p>Do these findings apply to Australia’s unique fauna? Unfortunately, we don’t have a detailed analysis of options for our wildlife, but here’s what we know now.</p>
<p>Well-designed fences keep wildlife off our highways but also fragment the landscape. Happily, animals will use crossing structures – overpasses and <a href="https://theconversation.com/good-news-highway-underpasses-for-wildlife-actually-work-187434">underpasses</a> – to get to food and mates on the other side of the road. Fences and crossings do work, but are regarded as too costly over Australia’s vast road network.</p>
<p>As for standard wildlife warning signs, drivers <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4494358/">ignore most of them</a> after a while, making them ineffective. Signs with graphic images and variable messages get <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ani3041142">more attention</a>, but we need road trials to assess their effect on drivers and collision rates.</p>
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<img alt="A road sign warns of the danger of camels, kangaroos and wombats crossing the road for the next 92km" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/576084/original/file-20240215-26-epzn5z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/576084/original/file-20240215-26-epzn5z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/576084/original/file-20240215-26-epzn5z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/576084/original/file-20240215-26-epzn5z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/576084/original/file-20240215-26-epzn5z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/576084/original/file-20240215-26-epzn5z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/576084/original/file-20240215-26-epzn5z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">The vastness of Australia’s road network is one of the challenges for protecting native wildlife.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Taras Vyshnya/Shutterstock</span></span>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/good-news-highway-underpasses-for-wildlife-actually-work-187434">Good news: highway underpasses for wildlife actually work</a>
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<h2>Whistling in the dark</h2>
<p>Some drivers install cheap, wind-driven, high-pitched wildlife whistles on their vehicles. Tests in the United States 20 years ago found humans and deer <a href="https://doi.org/10.1121/1.1582071">could not hear any whistling sound</a> above the road noise of the test vehicle. Yet these devices are still sold in Australia as kangaroo deterrents. </p>
<p>The Shu-Roo, an Australian invention, is an active wildlife whistle. It is fitted to the bumper bar, producing a high-pitched electronic sound, which is claimed to scare wildlife away from the road. Sadly, <a href="https://rest.neptune-prod.its.unimelb.edu.au/server/api/core/bitstreams/3c3154e0-2f48-5b73-a6cd-a7423c2a75ee/content">our tests</a> show the Shu-Roo signal can’t be heard above road noise 50 metres away and has no effect on captive kangaroo behaviour. </p>
<p>We also recruited fleets of trucks, buses, vans, utes and cars to field test the Shu-Roo. Nearly 100 vehicles covered more than 4 million kilometres across Australia over 15,500 days. The drivers reported just over one wildlife-vehicle collision per 100,000km travelled, but <a href="https://doi.org/10.7882/AZ.2021.042">there was no difference in the rate</a> for vehicles fitted with a Shu-Roo versus those without one.</p>
<p>The virtual fence is the latest attempt to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. It uses a line of posts spaced along the roadside, each with a unit producing loud sounds and flashing lights aimed away from the road. Vehicle headlights activate the units, which are claimed to alert animals and reduce the risk of collision. </p>
<p>Early results from Tasmania were encouraging. A 50% drop in possum and wallaby deaths was reported, but <a href="https://doi.org/10.1071/AM19009">this trial had many design flaws</a>. Recent trials in <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/10/752">Tasmania</a>, <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/10/1323">New South Wales</a> and <a href="https://www.redland.qld.gov.au/downloads/download/292/virtual_fence_to_reduce_vehicle_collisions_with_wallabies_on_heinemann_rd_-_final_report_2020">Queensland</a> show no effect of virtual fencing on collisions with possums, wallabies or wombats. </p>
<p>Our concern is that this system is being <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-02/wildlife-fence-trial-underway-in-queensland-and-phillip-island/12268110">rolled out</a> in <a href="https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/about-council/news-and-publications/media-releases/2023/june/councils-innovative-trial-helping-keep-local-wildlife-safe">many</a> <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-26/nsw-south-coast-council-first-virtual-fence-to-protect-wildlife/101571600">parts</a> of <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/the-stealth-tech-aiming-to-stop-roos-from-becoming-roadkill-20231222-p5etda.html">Australia</a>. It gives the impression of action to reduce collisions with wildlife, but without an evidence base, solid study design or adequate monitoring.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/roadkill-we-can-predict-where-animals-cross-roads-and-use-it-to-prevent-collisions-164001">Roadkill: we can predict where animals cross roads – and use it to prevent collisions</a>
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<h2>A very messy problem</h2>
<p>The problem has many dimensions. We need to consider all of them to achieve safe travel for people and animals on our roads. </p>
<p>At a landscape level, collision hotspots occur where wildlife frequently cross roads, which can help us predict the collision risk for species such as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13465">koalas</a>. But the risk differs between species. For example, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01530">on Phillip Island</a> most wallaby collisions happen on rural roads, while most involving possums and birds are in urban streets. </p>
<p>Traffic volume and speed are key factors for many species, including <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2306">kangaroos</a>. </p>
<p>Driver training and experience are also important. In the Royal National Park in New South Wales, <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/6/6/40">half the drivers surveyed</a> had struck animals, including wallabies and deer. Yet most still <a href="https://theconversation.com/10-million-animals-are-hit-on-our-roads-each-year-heres-how-you-can-help-them-and-steer-clear-of-them-these-holidays-149733">weren’t keen</a> to slow down or avoid driving at dawn and dusk.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/10-million-animals-are-hit-on-our-roads-each-year-heres-how-you-can-help-them-and-steer-clear-of-them-these-holidays-149733">10 million animals are hit on our roads each year. Here’s how you can help them (and steer clear of them) these holidays</a>
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<p>Road design has a major influence on wildlife-vehicle collions too, but the planning process too often <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.959918">neglects wildlife studies</a>.</p>
<p>Smarter cars are <a href="https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1822182/FULLTEXT01.pdf">being developed</a>. One day these will use AI to spot animal hazards, apply automatic emergency braking and alert other drivers of real-time risk. </p>
<p>To explore potential technological solutions, Transport for NSW is running a <a href="https://www.eianz.org/events/event/symposium-using-technology-to-reduce-wildlife-vehicle-collisions">symposium</a> at the University of Technology Sydney on May 21. The symposium will cover wildlife ecology and the evidence base for options to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions in Australia. </p>
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<p><em>If you see an injured animal on the road, call <a href="https://www.wildliferescue.net.au/">Wildlife Rescue Australia</a> on 1300 596 457. for specific state and territory numbers, go to the <a href="https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/who-should-i-contact-about-injured-wildlife/">RSPCA injured wildlife site</a>.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/222367/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Graeme Coulson currently receives funding from Nakatomi, Parks Victoria, Phillip Island Nature Parks and ACT Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Helena Bender received past funding from the following organisations to undertake PhD research that is drawn up and reported in this work: Holsworth Wildlife Fund, The Royal Automative Club of Victoria, New South Wales Road Traffic Authority, National Roads and Motorists' Association Limited, Transport South Australia, The University of Melbourne (Department of Zoology and the Faculty of Science). She has received funding more recently from Nakatomi.</span></em></p>Many measures commonly thought to reduce the toll of animals injured and killed on our roads aren’t effective. But there is evidence to support other solutions.Graeme Coulson, Honorary Principal Fellow, School of BioSciences, The University of MelbourneHelena Bender, Senior Lecturer, Environmental Social Sciences, The University of MelbourneLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2189312023-12-11T19:02:41Z2023-12-11T19:02:41Z8 ways to tone down the Christmas lights to help wildlife – and why we should<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/563148/original/file-20231204-17-esyf9q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=32%2C5%2C3551%2C2018&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christmas_lights_galore.jpg">Agnostic Preachers Kid/Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>The Australian government has launched a campaign asking people to “<a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/campaign/light-pollution">switch off light pollution” to protect wildlife</a>. So, what does the science say? Should we rethink Christmas lights? </p>
<p>In <a href="https://biodiversitycouncil.org.au/media/uploads/2023_12/biodiversity_council_2023_impacts_of_artificial_light_on_wildlife.pdf">our latest report</a>, we reviewed research into the effects of artificial light at night on mammals, frogs, birds and reptiles. We found artificial lights cause problems for a wide range of species, and energy-efficient <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2309539120">LED lights</a> often <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jez.2163">make matters worse</a>. </p>
<p>Most people don’t realise their outdoor lights can harm wildlife. <a href="https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi/vol16/iss1/12/">At Christmas the problem grows</a> because many people put up more decorative lights. </p>
<p>Here we offer eight easy ways to reduce light pollution at Christmas while still showing your festive spirit.</p>
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<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VAJf3iWqJo0?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">Bright flashing Christmas lights make our gardens stressful for wildlife (The Biodiversity Council)</span></figcaption>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/getting-smarter-about-city-lights-is-good-for-us-and-nature-too-69556">Getting smarter about city lights is good for us and nature too</a>
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<h2>Easy ways to help</h2>
<p>These eight <a href="https://darksky.org/resources/guides-and-how-tos/lighting-principles/">simple actions</a> will help you support local wildlife while also enjoying festive decorations. Most will save electricity too. </p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/563520/original/file-20231205-17-pubb03.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A big red bow on a tree in front of a house" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/563520/original/file-20231205-17-pubb03.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/563520/original/file-20231205-17-pubb03.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563520/original/file-20231205-17-pubb03.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563520/original/file-20231205-17-pubb03.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563520/original/file-20231205-17-pubb03.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563520/original/file-20231205-17-pubb03.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563520/original/file-20231205-17-pubb03.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">Daytime decorations are a great way to be festive without contributing to light pollution.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Jaana Dielenberg</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
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<ol>
<li><p>Switch to daytime decorations such as big red bows on trees. Better still, plant a <a href="https://flowerhub.com.au/eduhub/article/7-Native-Australian-Flowers-Associated-with-Christmas">garden with festive colour</a>. Bottlebrush, woolly bush, Christmas bush and Christmas bells are all gorgeous native Australian plants that bloom brightly over Christmas.</p></li>
<li><p>Instead of covering your house and fence, which can also trap animals and block their movement, make your decorative lights window displays. At bedtime, close your curtains so indoor lights cannot disturb either sleeping or active animals outside.</p></li>
<li><p>Don’t leave lights on all night. Pick a short period, and avoid dusk or dawn when animals can be most active. Timers are helpful.</p></li>
<li><p>Instead of bright white or blue lights, use warm colours such as amber or red, as they are less harmful to wildlife. </p></li>
<li><p>Use low-intensity lights – they are supposed to look pretty, not light up a surgery.</p></li>
<li><p>When using spotlights, keep them angled downward and focused on where you need them. Use shields to stop light shining into the sky or nearby vegetation.</p></li>
<li><p>Leave your trees and shrubs as dark refuges for nocturnal wildlife – don’t load them up with lights.</p></li>
<li><p>Camping or travelling? Minimising your light pollution is a great way to help animals in the bush and along the coast. Thousands of <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0110114">young seabirds</a> and <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/campaign/light-pollution/turtles">baby turtles</a> die on their first trip because artificial lights attract them and cause them to move in the wrong direction. </p></li>
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<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/563519/original/file-20231205-27-dxt5r6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Bright red botttlebrush flowers against a blue sky" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/563519/original/file-20231205-27-dxt5r6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/563519/original/file-20231205-27-dxt5r6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563519/original/file-20231205-27-dxt5r6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563519/original/file-20231205-27-dxt5r6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563519/original/file-20231205-27-dxt5r6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563519/original/file-20231205-27-dxt5r6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563519/original/file-20231205-27-dxt5r6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">Plants like bottlebrushes and Christmas bells can add a festive feel to gardens.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Zeynel Cebeci/Wikimedia Commons</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/bright-city-lights-are-keeping-ocean-predators-awake-and-hungry-68965">Bright city lights are keeping ocean predators awake and hungry</a>
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<h2>Why get involved?</h2>
<p>Research in Australia and overseas has found artificial light at night has a <a href="https://biodiversitycouncil.org.au/media/uploads/2023_12/biodiversity_council_2023_impacts_of_artificial_light_on_wildlife.pdf">wide range of harmful effects</a> on many types of animals, from making them <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749121003559">stressed</a> and <a href="https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi/vol16/iss1/12/">more vulnerable to predators</a>, to changing their <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0085069">reproduction</a> and making migrating birds more likely to <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2101666118">crash into windows</a>. </p>
<p>It’s such a significant issue for our wildlife that the Australian government launched the “<a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/campaign/light-pollution/mammals">Let’s switch off light pollution</a>” campaign in November.</p>
<p>You might not realise how <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/geb.12404">important</a> your garden is to wildlife, because most of our mammals and frogs, and many birds and reptiles, are active at night and are great at hiding as they try to stay out of sight of predators. </p>
<p>Depending on where you live, your yard may be visited at night by <a href="https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/get-involved/sydney-nature/wildlife/mammals-in-sydney">possums, bats, bettongs</a>, <a href="https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2017/10/the-native-animals-youll-find-in-an-aussie-backyard/">bandicoots</a>, gliders, antechinus, echidnas, koalas, owls, tawny frogmouths, bush stone curlew, frogs, snakes, moths and geckos. </p>
<p>You can help these animals by minimising the amount of <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/fs-light-pollution-guidelines.pdf">artificial light</a> you shine outdoors. </p>
<p>By stopping lights shining up into the sky or out into the distance, you can also help animals further away. <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.1708574114">Migrating birds</a> flying high overhead, <a href="https://www.aims.gov.au/information-centre/news-and-stories/blinded-light-tracking-baby-sea-turtles">baby sea turtles</a> and even <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/blinding-nemo-artificial-lights-prevent-clownfish-eggs-hatching#:%7E:text=Experiment%20suggests%20light%20pollution%20threatens%20sea%20creatures&text=The%20experiment%20included%2010%20clownfish,them%20hatched%2C%20National%20Geographic%20reports.">fish</a> in the coast can be disturbed by artificial <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11252-021-01149-9">sky glow</a>, which they <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0017307">see from far away</a>. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, increasingly common energy-efficient <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2309539120">LED lights</a> appear to have <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jez.2163">greater impacts</a> on many animal species <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1365-2664.12758">than other lighting types</a> because they are rich in short-wavelength white and blue light. That means minimising the amount of scattered light has become more important than ever. </p>
<p>Blue light at night is a <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side">problem for humans too</a> and can make it hard to sleep, which is why many mobile phones have a night-light setting that reduces blue light and makes the phone glow appear orange-tinted. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/563523/original/file-20231205-21-aco7ia.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A large tree covered in fairy lights at night" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/563523/original/file-20231205-21-aco7ia.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/563523/original/file-20231205-21-aco7ia.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563523/original/file-20231205-21-aco7ia.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563523/original/file-20231205-21-aco7ia.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563523/original/file-20231205-21-aco7ia.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563523/original/file-20231205-21-aco7ia.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563523/original/file-20231205-21-aco7ia.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Trees provide vital habitat for wildlife, but when they are lit like this few animals can use them.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Mick Haupt/Unsplash</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
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<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/yes-the-state-of-the-environment-is-grim-but-you-can-make-a-difference-right-in-your-own-neighbourhoood-187259">Yes, the state of the environment is grim, but you can make a difference, right in your own neighbourhoood</a>
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<h2>Your lighting choices make a difference</h2>
<p>At Christmas and year-round, minimising light pollution is a great way to help wildlife. </p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/563518/original/file-20231205-17-3fl8q5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/563518/original/file-20231205-17-3fl8q5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/563518/original/file-20231205-17-3fl8q5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=406&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563518/original/file-20231205-17-3fl8q5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=406&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563518/original/file-20231205-17-3fl8q5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=406&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563518/original/file-20231205-17-3fl8q5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=510&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563518/original/file-20231205-17-3fl8q5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=510&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/563518/original/file-20231205-17-3fl8q5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=510&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Bandicoots occur in many urban areas around Australia. Artificial lighting disturbs the bandicoot’s vision and makes them more visible to predators.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Mark Gillow/Flickr</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Light pollution is not the only problem facing our wildlife, but it can make it much harder for animals to survive other pressures. </p>
<p>For some species, such as <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/44973632">seabirds</a>, light pollution is one of the biggest threats to their survival. </p>
<p>Even though urban areas are already <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/sciadv.1600377">bright at night</a>, your <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2101666118">actions still make a difference</a>. </p>
<p>Like other types of pollution such as carbon emissions, <a href="https://darksky.org/news/light-is-energy-estimating-the-impact-of-light-pollution-on-climate-change/">light pollution adds up</a>. This means every <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0110114">light you can turn off</a>, turn down or stop pointing into nature helps. If many people get involved, the difference we can make will be enormous. </p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/artificial-light-at-night-can-change-the-behaviour-of-all-animals-not-just-humans-183028">Artificial light at night can change the behaviour of all animals, not just humans</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/218931/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jaana Dielenberg works for the Biodiversity Council. The Biodiversity Council was founded by 11 universities and receives support from The Ian Potter Foundation, The Ross Trust, Trawalla Foundation, The Rendere Trust, Isaacson Davis Foundation, Coniston Charitable Trust and Angela Whitbread. Jaana is employed by The University of Melbourne and is a Charles Darwin University Fellow.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Sarah Bekessy receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Ian Potter Foundation and the European Commission. She is a lead councillor of the Biodiversity Council, a board member of Bush Heritage Australia, a member of WWF's Eminent Scientists Group and a member of the Advisory Group for Wood for Good.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Loren Fardell does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>A new report from the Biodiversity Council reveals the disturbing effects of artificial light on
Australia’s nocturnal animals. Here’s how you can help wildlife at Christmas and all year round.Jaana Dielenberg, University Fellow, Charles Darwin UniversityLoren Fardell, Research Fellow, The University of QueenslandSarah Bekessy, Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning, Leader, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group (ICON Science), RMIT UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2143872023-10-17T19:07:10Z2023-10-17T19:07:10ZThe smarter the magpie, the better they can handle our noisy cities<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/551368/original/file-20231002-23-n4hzko.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=31%2C38%2C5145%2C3841&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">James Blackburn</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Cities are hard for wildlife. Many animal species avoid the cars, buildings, smog and fragmented habitats of urban environments. Then there’s the noise pollution, a serious issue for humans and animals alike, according to the <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789289002295">World Health Organization</a>. </p>
<p>Human-made (anthropogenic) noise can be very bad for animals. Busy cities can make it harder for animals to reproduce, communicate and behave naturally. </p>
<p>But magpies have generally found our cities to their liking. There is enough food about – and they can usually out-compete other urban bird species. </p>
<p>Even within magpie populations, there are differences in how individuals cope with noise. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16975">Our new research</a> has found the magpies that perform better on an associative learning task are better able to maintain their normal anti-predator behaviours in noise. That is, the smarter the magpie, the better they are likely to do in our cities. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/554172/original/file-20231017-29-2dvugw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Perth, Western Australia, seen from Kings Park. Freeways and a city skyline and a park." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/554172/original/file-20231017-29-2dvugw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/554172/original/file-20231017-29-2dvugw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/554172/original/file-20231017-29-2dvugw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/554172/original/file-20231017-29-2dvugw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/554172/original/file-20231017-29-2dvugw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=565&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/554172/original/file-20231017-29-2dvugw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=565&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/554172/original/file-20231017-29-2dvugw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=565&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Cities like Perth offer grass, open space – and a lot of noisy machines.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>What does noise do to a magpie?</h2>
<p>While magpies are often thought of as similar to crows, they’re not corvids at all and not related to Eurasian magpies. Their closest relatives are actually butcherbirds. </p>
<p>To date, most research on the damage done by human-made noise has examined what it means for a species or population. There’s been little work done on how <a href="https://academic.oup.com/beheco/article/30/6/1501/5526711">individuals respond differently to noise</a>. What we do know suggests factors such as the sex, age, body condition and prior experience with noise can change how animals cope with noise. </p>
<p>But what about cognition? Animals from the same species can have very different cognitive abilities – the ways an animal perceive, store and respond to information from their environment. </p>
<p>So would smarter animals be more able to change their behaviour to survive better in the urban jungle? </p>
<p>To find out, we observed all behaviours shown in timed 20-minute periods by 75 wild magpies in Perth (to a total of 333 observation periods). We also played magpie alarm calls with and without the noise of planes in the background to 24 magpies to see how plane noise affected their anti-predator response. </p>
<p>These wild magpies live in Perth, Western Australia and have been studied consistently since 2013. Most birds have coloured rings or bands on their legs so we can easily identify them. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/551365/original/file-20231002-21-cmbxg0.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="two magpies standing on the ground close to each other in a city park" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/551365/original/file-20231002-21-cmbxg0.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/551365/original/file-20231002-21-cmbxg0.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/551365/original/file-20231002-21-cmbxg0.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/551365/original/file-20231002-21-cmbxg0.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/551365/original/file-20231002-21-cmbxg0.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/551365/original/file-20231002-21-cmbxg0.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/551365/original/file-20231002-21-cmbxg0.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Urban parks offer good foraging for magpies – if they can put up with our noise.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">James Blackburn</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Individual identification meant we could test the intelligence of 52 of these magpies to see whether performing better on associative-learning tests would change how birds respond to and cope with anthropogenic noise. </p>
<p>The first thing we found was, yes, magpies find our noise difficult to handle. Our observations revealed loud man-made noises such as traffic, airplanes, or leafblowers forced magpies to spend more time vigilant and alert to threats, to sing less, and to forage less efficiently. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-hyper-manicured-public-spaces-hurt-urban-wildlife-109449">How hyper-manicured public spaces hurt urban wildlife</a>
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</em>
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<p>That’s likely because these magpies saw anthropogenic noise as dangerous or threatening stimuli, or as a distraction. That forces them to spend more time alert, with less time for other important behaviours. </p>
<p>But there are other potential causes too. Noise from a bustling restaurant strip may drown out small sounds magpies use as cues, such as the rustle of beetles burrowing under leaf litter. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/554171/original/file-20231017-23-ctm3no.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="magpie bending its head and pulling out a worm from grass" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/554171/original/file-20231017-23-ctm3no.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/554171/original/file-20231017-23-ctm3no.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/554171/original/file-20231017-23-ctm3no.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/554171/original/file-20231017-23-ctm3no.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/554171/original/file-20231017-23-ctm3no.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/554171/original/file-20231017-23-ctm3no.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/554171/original/file-20231017-23-ctm3no.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Magpies have broadly adapted well to life in Australia’s cities.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We also found human-made noise made it harder for our birds to respond to a magpie alarm call, used to warn others of predators. When we played an alarm call in isolation, about 37% of birds sought cover. When we added the noise of a plane flying overhead to the alarm, only 8% of birds fled. This suggests birds couldn’t properly hear and respond to this cue of danger. </p>
<p>Our magpies also spent much more time on alert after an alarm call played alone compared to an alarm call played with human-made noise. This suggests their normal anti-predator response doesn’t work as well against a backdrop of our noise. </p>
<h2>Why would intelligence help magpies deal with noise?</h2>
<p>Researchers in the United Kingdom <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.633947/full">working on animal cognition</a> suggest better cognition on a species level may help animals cope with new environments or environmental stress. Other researchers argue cognition is what makes it possible to <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.0408145102">adapt to and succeed</a> in urban environments. </p>
<p>To test this, we gave magpies a learning task to measure their intelligence and cognition. Could they associate a colour cue with a food reward? How long did it take them to learn that, say, dark blue meant a snack? </p>
<p>This test is a measurement of how quickly they learn. It’s thought to be involved in how successful an animal is in foraging, social interactions and responding to predators. </p>
<p>We found smarter birds reacted more similarly to a standalone alarm call as they did to one with a noisy plane in the background. By contrast, less intelligent birds responded significantly less to alarm calls with plane noise compared to an alarm call alone. </p>
<p>For a magpie, that could be the difference between life or death. If you’re clever enough to shut out the background noise of the plane so you can better hear a warning, you stand a better chance of surviving, say, a dog rushing you at a park. </p>
<p>Birds with better associative learning may also be better in other aspects of intelligence too. In fact, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature25503">previous research</a> on this species found birds that performed better in one cognitive task also performed better in other cognitive tasks. </p>
<p>As researchers learn more about animal intelligence, we’ll find out more about how associative learning helps animals adapt – and why these abilities are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352154616301942">so strongly conserved</a> in evolution. </p>
<p>Our study reveals intelligence matters for individual animals as they grapple with how to adapt to and cope with human-induced stressors.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/toxic-cities-urban-wildlife-affected-by-exposure-to-pollutants-127590">Toxic cities: Urban wildlife affected by exposure to pollutants</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/214387/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Grace Blackburn receives funding from an ARC Discovery Grant, a Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, and the University of Western Australia.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Amanda Ridley receives funding from the Australian Research Council Discovery Research Projects funding scheme</span></em></p>In every Australian city, you’re likely to come across a warbling magpie. How do they cope with the onslaught of noise? It turns out, the smarter ones cope better.Grace Blackburn, PhD Candidate, The University of Western AustraliaAmanda Ridley, Associate professor, behavioural ecology, The University of Western AustraliaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2139142023-09-29T15:41:08Z2023-09-29T15:41:08ZUkraine war: Russian shelling is taking a deadly toll on urban bats<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/550598/original/file-20230927-27-i3qjxf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=24%2C0%2C5439%2C3645&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Many of the buildings in Kharkiv that bats roost in have been destroyed or damaged by shelling.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/demolition-demolished-apartment-buildings-city-caused-2289208005">DarSzach/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has given rise to a humanitarian crisis. <a href="https://www.unrefugees.org/emergencies/ukraine/">More than 6.2 million people</a> have fled Ukraine as a result of heavy shelling and fighting, and an additional 5.1 million people have been internally displaced. </p>
<p>But wars do not only inflict suffering on humans – animals suffer too. <a href="https://brill.com/view/journals/jaae/5/1/article-p27_4.xml">Research</a> by the <a href="https://batsukraine.org/en/bats-species-en/">Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center</a> (the largest project for bat conservation, research and outreach in eastern Europe) has brought into focus the plight of bats in the war-damaged city of Kharkiv. Situated only 30km from the Russian border, Kharkiv has suffered severe damage from <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-russia-accuse-each-other-shelling-civilians-zaporizhzhia-2023-07-15/">relentless shelling</a> throughout the conflict.</p>
<p>In 2022, shelling may have led directly to the killing of approximately 7,000 <a href="https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/animals/mammals/noctule-bat/">noctule bats</a> (<em>Nyctalus noctula</em>) – a species common throughout Europe. Nearly 3,000 more bats then became trapped inside damaged buildings, where many subsequently died. More trapped bats were found in Kharkiv in 2022 than in the preceding four years combined.</p>
<p>Despite the challenges posed by the invasion, scientists at the Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center have valiantly continued their bat conservation efforts, providing care and rehabilitation for injured bats. These efforts have also given scientists the opportunity to gather data on how the invasion has affected bats and their roosting locations. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="The common noctule bat." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/550596/original/file-20230927-19-2pbu8y.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/550596/original/file-20230927-19-2pbu8y.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=426&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550596/original/file-20230927-19-2pbu8y.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=426&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550596/original/file-20230927-19-2pbu8y.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=426&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550596/original/file-20230927-19-2pbu8y.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=536&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550596/original/file-20230927-19-2pbu8y.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=536&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550596/original/file-20230927-19-2pbu8y.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=536&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Shelling may have led to the killing of 7,000 noctule bats in Kharkiv alone in 2022.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/common-noctule-nyctalus-noctula-netopyr-rezavy-150484784">Denisa Mikesova/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Bats in trouble?</h2>
<p>Bats inhabit parts of urban areas that are particularly susceptible to attacks. Noctule bats, for instance, spend most of the winter hibernating <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-25220-9_14">within multistorey buildings</a>, such as in cavities between concrete blocks.</p>
<p>The damage to the city began at the end of the bat hibernation season (November to April). Consequently, some of the buildings were sheltering thousands of hibernating bats when the first strikes occurred. The researchers estimate that as many as 45% of the buildings in Kharkiv that bats roost in have been completely or partially destroyed by shelling. </p>
<p>During this hibernation period, bats enter a <a href="https://thelandmarkpractice.com/bats-and-hibernation/">state of inactivity</a> where they reduce their heart rate and metabolic state. Once they have entered this state, they can take <a href="https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/newsroom/release/55886">upwards of 20 minutes</a> to wake up, so cannot respond to danger quickly.</p>
<p>From August to October, bats again gather in these buildings to mate, during a period known as “autumn swarming”. Windows left open by people as they were evacuating, or that were broken during the war, made it easy for bats to fly inside these buildings, where they subsequently became trapped. </p>
<p>During the autumn swarming period in 2022, three times as many bats were found trapped in buildings than the average in non-war years, with a death rate of around 30%.</p>
<h2>Lured into a trap</h2>
<p>In 2022, Kharkiv might also have been experiencing a higher bat population than is usual for autumn. Typically, researchers observe only a few bats in the weeks directly following the autumn swarming, a period they term the “autumn silence”. Between 2016 and 2019, they recorded sightings of fewer than 10 bats every few days during this silence.</p>
<p>However, during the same period in 2022, they reported sightings of over 100 bats on three occasions. This suggests that the usual autumn silence period may not have occurred.</p>
<p>This surge in bat numbers could have been brought about for several reasons. In the early days of the war, streetlights in Kharkiv were switched off and there was minimal lighting from houses, so the level of artificial light pollution was reduced. Artificial light pollution can disrupt bats, making them more <a href="https://www.lbp.org.uk/downloads/Publications/Management/lighting_and_bats.pdf">vulnerable to predators</a> and causing them to <a href="https://www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/threats-to-bats/lighting#:%7E:text=Artificial%20light%20falling%20on%20or,abundance%20(just%20after%20dusk).">emerge from their roosts</a> later at night.</p>
<p>The increase in bat sightings could also be explained by the growth of unmown grass and vegetation in the city during the conflict. This may have offered an <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191219074744.htm">increased supply of insects</a> for the bats to feed on.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A destroyed residential building after a missile rocket attack." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/550613/original/file-20230927-19-wgneed.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/550613/original/file-20230927-19-wgneed.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550613/original/file-20230927-19-wgneed.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550613/original/file-20230927-19-wgneed.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550613/original/file-20230927-19-wgneed.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550613/original/file-20230927-19-wgneed.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/550613/original/file-20230927-19-wgneed.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">War-damaged windows became gateways for bats to enter buildings.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/destroyed-residential-building-after-russian-missle-2319354047">Tatyana Vyc/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Protecting animals in conflict zones</h2>
<p>Hundreds of thousands of bats are estimated to hibernate in Kharkiv each year. The proportion of bats that have been killed or trapped in the city’s war-damaged environment is therefore still relatively low.</p>
<p>But this same story is probably happening throughout all of Ukraine’s war-damaged cities, resulting in many more bat fatalities. So the impact the war is having on their population is still worrying.</p>
<p>Bats play an <a href="https://www.bathealthfoundation.org/html/general_public.html">important role in the ecosystem</a>, particularly because they prey on insects. A substantial decline in bat populations has the potential to result in an <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8530310/">uptick in the population</a> of insect pests. </p>
<p>Invasive insect pests carry a substantial economic burden, imposing a yearly cost of <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/worlds-first-international-plant-health-conference-to-set-global-agenda-on-biosecurity-and-address-challenges-in-plant-health#:%7E:text=economy%20and%20environment.-,The%20Food%20and%20Agriculture%20Organization%20(FAO)%20of%20the%20United%20Nations,at%20least%20USD%2070%20billion.">at least US$70 billion</a> (£57 billion) to the global economy. According to <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1201366">research</a>, the economic value of bats to the US agricultural sector alone is estimated at nearly US$23 billion annually.</p>
<p>The Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center’s research has highlighted the ecological impact war can have on urban bats. However, this may apply to <a href="https://www.ifaw.org/international/press-releases/war-ukraine-biodiversity">many other key species</a> too.</p>
<p>When the time comes to repair Ukraine’s damaged cities, the significance of urban wildlife must not be overlooked. These animals are an important part of the urban environment. As people rebuild their lives, they must ensure a home is rebuilt for nature too.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/213914/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Eleanor Harrison does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Shelling may have led to the killing of 7,000 noctule bats in the city of Kharkiv aloneEleanor Harrison, Lecturer in Ecology, Keele UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2113472023-08-16T20:04:42Z2023-08-16T20:04:42ZA green roof or rooftop solar? You can combine them in a biosolar roof, boosting both biodiversity and power output<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542944/original/file-20230816-19-ud5god.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C8%2C6000%2C3979&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Growing city populations and limited space are driving the adoption of green roofs and green walls covered with living plants. As well as boosting biodiversity, green roofs could play another unexpectedly valuable role by increasing the electricity output of solar panels. </p>
<p>As solar panels heat up beyond 25°C, their efficiency <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2009.06.037">decreases markedly</a>. Green roofs <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119443">moderate rooftop temperatures</a>. So we wanted to find out: could green roofs help with the problem of heat reducing the output of solar panels?</p>
<p><a href="https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/150142/2/City%20of%20Sydney%20Final%20Report%20EPI%20R3%20201920005.pdf">Our research</a> compared a “biosolar” green roof – one that combines a solar system with a green roof – and a comparable conventional roof with an equivalent solar system. We measured the impacts on biodiversity and solar output, as well as how the plants coped with having panels installed above them. </p>
<p>The green roof supported much more biodiversity, as one might expect. By reducing average maximum temperatures by about 8°C, it increased solar generation by as much as 107% during peak periods. And while some plant species outperformed others, the vegetation flourished.</p>
<p>These results show we don’t have to choose between a green roof or a solar roof: we can combine the two and reap double the rewards.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pz3PiqzGxEQ?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">Daramu House in the Sydney CBD has a large array of solar panels installed over a green roof.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/despairing-about-climate-change-these-4-charts-on-the-unstoppable-growth-of-solar-may-change-your-mind-204901">Despairing about climate change? These 4 charts on the unstoppable growth of solar may change your mind</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>How was the study done?</h2>
<p>Many studies have tested a single rooftop divided into “green roof” and “non-green roof” sections to measure the differences caused by vegetation. A problem with such studies is “spatial confounding” – the effects of two nearby spaces influencing one another. So, for example, the cooler green roof section could moderate the temperature of the non-green section next to it.</p>
<p>In studies that use distinct buildings, the buildings might be too far apart or too different in construction to be comparable.</p>
<p>The two buildings in our study were the same height, size and shape and located next to each other in Sydney’s central business district. The only difference was Daramu House had a green roof and International House did not.</p>
<p>We <a href="https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/150142/2/City%20of%20Sydney%20Final%20Report%20EPI%20R3%20201920005.pdf">selected a mix</a> of native and non-native grasses and non-woody plants, which would flower across all seasons, to attract diverse animal species.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542713/original/file-20230815-23-s0cct9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542713/original/file-20230815-23-s0cct9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542713/original/file-20230815-23-s0cct9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=717&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542713/original/file-20230815-23-s0cct9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=717&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542713/original/file-20230815-23-s0cct9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=717&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542713/original/file-20230815-23-s0cct9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=901&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542713/original/file-20230815-23-s0cct9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=901&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542713/original/file-20230815-23-s0cct9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=901&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">(A) The study site location (red dot) in the Sydney central business district. (B) Architectural design of Daramu House. (C) Rooftop view looking south, showing plantings around and underneath solar panels.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/150142/2/City%20of%20Sydney%20Final%20Report%20EPI%20R3%20201920005.pdf">Green Roof & Solar Array – Comparative Research Project</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The biosolar green roof and conventional roof had the same area, about 1860 square metres, with roughly a third covered by solar panels. Vegetation covered about 78% of the green roof and the solar panels covered 40% of this planted area.</p>
<p>To identify which species were present on the roofs we used motion-sensing cameras and sampled for DNA traces. We documented changes in the green roof vegetation to record how shading by the solar panels affected the plants.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/greening-our-grey-cities-heres-how-green-roofs-and-walls-can-flourish-in-australia-139478">Greening our grey cities: here's how green roofs and walls can flourish in Australia</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>How did the panels affect the plants?</h2>
<p>In the open areas, we observed minimal changes in the vegetation cover over the study period compared to the initial planted community. </p>
<p>Plant growth was fastest and healthiest in the areas immediately around the solar panels. Several species doubled in coverage. We selected fast-growing vegetation for this section to achieve full coverage of the green roof beds as soon as possible.</p>
<p>The vegetation changed the most in the areas directly below and surrounding the solar panels. The Baby Sun Rose, <em>Aptenia cordifolia</em>, emerged as the dominant plant. It occupied most of the space beneath and surrounding the solar panels, despite having been planted in relatively low densities. </p>
<p>This was surprising: it was not expected the plants would prefer the shaded areas under the panels to the open areas. This shows that shading by solar panels will not prevent the growth of full and healthy roof gardens.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542714/original/file-20230815-29045-mip8m6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542714/original/file-20230815-29045-mip8m6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542714/original/file-20230815-29045-mip8m6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=818&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542714/original/file-20230815-29045-mip8m6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=818&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542714/original/file-20230815-29045-mip8m6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=818&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542714/original/file-20230815-29045-mip8m6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1028&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542714/original/file-20230815-29045-mip8m6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1028&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542714/original/file-20230815-29045-mip8m6.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1028&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">(A) An example of evenly distributed plant cover around solar panels. (B) <em>Aptenia cordifolia</em> (Baby Sun Rose) came to dominate the area beneath solar panels. Minor cover of <em>Viola hederacea</em> can also be seen. (C) Vegetation around solar panels along the outside of east section of the roof. (D) Additional evidence of the dominance of <em>A. cordifolia</em> beneath the panels and dieback directly under them. (E) Relatively even cover of a range of species and marked increase in height in <em>Goodenia ovata</em> (Hop Goodenia). (F) Substantial height increases for the entire vegetation community.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/150142/2/City%20of%20Sydney%20Final%20Report%20EPI%20R3%20201920005.pdf">Green Roof & Solar Array – Comparative Research Project</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/up-on-a-roof-why-new-zealands-move-towards-greater-urban-density-should-see-a-rooftop-revolution-172226">Up on a roof: why New Zealand's move towards greater urban density should see a rooftop revolution</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>What were the biodiversity impacts?</h2>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542721/original/file-20230815-19-5rlkuv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542721/original/file-20230815-19-5rlkuv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542721/original/file-20230815-19-5rlkuv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=741&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542721/original/file-20230815-19-5rlkuv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=741&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542721/original/file-20230815-19-5rlkuv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=741&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542721/original/file-20230815-19-5rlkuv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=931&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542721/original/file-20230815-19-5rlkuv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=931&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542721/original/file-20230815-19-5rlkuv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=931&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">eDNA sampling on site.</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We used environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys to compare biodiversity on the green roof and conventional roof. Water run-off samples were collected from both roofs and processed on site using portable citizen scientist <a href="https://www.smith-root.com/edna/edna-citizen-scientist-sampler">eDNA sampling equipment</a> to detect traces of DNA shed by the species on the roof. </p>
<p>The eDNA surveys detected a diverse range of species. These included some species (such as algae and fungi) that are not easily detected using other survey methods. The results confirmed the presence of bird species recorded by the cameras but also showed other visiting bird species went undetected by the cameras. </p>
<p>Overall, the green roof supported four times as many species of birds, over seven times as many arthropods such as insects, spiders and millipedes, and twice as many snail and slug species as the conventional roof. There was many times the diversity of microorganisms such as algae and fungi. </p>
<p>Encouragingly, the green roof attracted species unexpected in the city. They included blue-banded bees (<em>Amegilla cingulata</em>) and metallic shield bugs (<em>Scutiphora pedicellata</em>).</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Bee with blue bands on a flower" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542918/original/file-20230816-22-9cxflo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542918/original/file-20230816-22-9cxflo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542918/original/file-20230816-22-9cxflo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542918/original/file-20230816-22-9cxflo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542918/original/file-20230816-22-9cxflo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542918/original/file-20230816-22-9cxflo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542918/original/file-20230816-22-9cxflo.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Blue-banded bees were among the unexpected visitors to the green roof.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amegilla_cingulata_on_long_tube_of_Acanthus_ilicifolius_flower.jpg">Chiswick Chap/Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/yes-the-state-of-the-environment-is-grim-but-you-can-make-a-difference-right-in-your-own-neighbourhoood-187259">Yes, the state of the environment is grim, but you can make a difference, right in your own neighbourhoood</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>How did the green roof alter temperatures?</h2>
<p>The green roof reduced surface temperatures by up to 9.63°C for the solar panels and 6.93°C for the roof surfaces. An 8°C reduction in average peak temperature on the green roof would result in substantial heating and cooling energy savings inside the building. </p>
<p>This lowering of temperatures increased the maximum output of the solar panels by 21-107%, depending on the month. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109703">Performance modelling</a> indicates an extensive green roof in central Sydney can, on average, produce 4.5% more electricity at any given light level.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542712/original/file-20230815-25187-3vc42q.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="2 graphs showing temperatures and solar power output for biosolar green roof and conventional roof" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542712/original/file-20230815-25187-3vc42q.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/542712/original/file-20230815-25187-3vc42q.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=298&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542712/original/file-20230815-25187-3vc42q.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=298&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542712/original/file-20230815-25187-3vc42q.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=298&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542712/original/file-20230815-25187-3vc42q.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=374&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542712/original/file-20230815-25187-3vc42q.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=374&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/542712/original/file-20230815-25187-3vc42q.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=374&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Energy output (left) and surface temperatures (right) of solar panels on a biosolar green roof and on a conventional roof.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/150142/2/City%20of%20Sydney%20Final%20Report%20EPI%20R3%20201920005.pdf">Data: Green Roof & Solar Array – Comparative Research Project</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>These results show we don’t have to choose between a green roof or a solar roof. We can combine them to take advantage of the many benefits of biosolar green roofs.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/green-roofs-improve-the-urban-environment-so-why-dont-all-buildings-have-them-123420">Green roofs improve the urban environment – so why don't all buildings have them?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Biosolar roofs can help get cities to net zero</h2>
<p>The next step is to design green roofs and their plantings specifically to enhance biodiversity. Green roofs and other green infrastructure may alter urban wildlife’s activities and could eventually attract non-urban species.</p>
<p>Our green roof also decreased stormwater runoff, removed a range of run-off pollutants and insulated the building from extremes of temperature. A relatively inexpensive system provides all of these services with moderate maintenance and, best of all, zero energy inputs. </p>
<p>Clearly, biosolar green roofs could make major contributions to net-zero cities. And all that’s needed is space that currently has no other use.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/211347/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Peter Irga receives funding from the Australian Research Council, The City of Sydney and NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. Peter Irga engages with the Australian Flora Foundation and the Australian Green Infrastructure Network. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Eamonn Wooster receives funding from The City of Sydney. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Fraser R Torpy receives funding from The Australian Research Council, the City of Sydney and NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jack Rojahn receives funding from The Centre for Invasive Species Solutions.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Robert Fleck receives funding from The City of Sydney and NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.. </span></em></p>A new study shows we can maximise the benefits of green roofs and rooftop solar systems by putting them together on the one roof.Peter Irga, ARC DECRA Fellow and Lecturer in Air and Noise Pollution, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology SydneyEamonn Wooster, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt UniversityFraser R Torpy, Director, Plants and Environmental Quality Research Group, University of Technology SydneyJack Rojahn, PhD Candidate, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of CanberraRobert Fleck, Research Scientist, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2071882023-06-30T12:38:40Z2023-06-30T12:38:40ZBy ‘helping’ wild animals, you could end their freedom or even their lives – here’s why you should keep your distance<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/534688/original/file-20230628-19-sk482o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=6%2C0%2C4019%2C3017&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">An eastern box turtle crossing a rural Pennsylvania road.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CA0XxGAgnPg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">Julian Avery</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>For anyone who enjoys nature, summer is a fascinating time to be outside. Animals are on the move: Turtles are nesting, baby birds are testing their wings, snakes are foraging and young mammals are emerging.</p>
<p>In central Pennsylvania, where I live, last year’s hatchling painted turtles have overwintered in their nests and emerged looking like tiny helpless snacks for raccoons and ravens. I’ve already rescued a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CtIJe_eADFt/">baby killdeer</a> – a shorebird that nests in parking lots – that ran off the road and got stuck in a grate. And I’ve watched an eastern chipmunk prey on a nest of <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Towhee/overview">towhee chicks</a>. </p>
<p>I moved the killdeer to safety because it had fallen into what we call an “ecological trap.” Humans create these traps when we degrade habitat that looks suitable to animals. For killdeer, parking pads and roofs give off all the vibes of a great nesting site – except for the drains – and they have less natural habitat available these days. </p>
<p>But I didn’t intervene with the towhees. Their exposed nest site may have been a bad parental decision, or perhaps the chicks’ begging called too much attention. Either way, natural selection helped ensure that these birds and their genes were unlikely to survive. Ultimately, that may be better for the population and species than if I had intervened.</p>
<p>As a <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=uYWmAHMAAAAJ&hl=en">wildlife biologist</a>, I know that relocating animals can be bad from a scientific perspective. It also can easily <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12246">harm the creature you want to help</a>.</p>
<p>Based on my experience as a scientist and university teacher, I’ve developed guidelines for when to get involved in the lives of animals I encounter outside. When I do intervene, it is after carefully considering the potential reasons for the animal’s situation, the species’ population status and the potential harm my actions might inflict upon the whole population – not just on one adorable creature.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uv-fN4bO0Zc?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">A Humane Society wildlife expert explains what to know about backyard wildlife.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Reasons for caution</h2>
<p>Wild animals have genetic associations with specific habitats that have evolved over many generations. Relocating them can disrupt those connections.</p>
<p>Moving animals means they can’t contribute their offspring and genes to the local population through breeding. That could be catastrophic for species with slow population growth, like many reptiles, who may take years to mature and might only manage a few successful broods in their lifetime. </p>
<p>For species like these, mature females are critical to keeping population sizes high. When populations are small, they lose genetic diversity that <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/frym.2021.656168">helps them resist environmental change</a>. </p>
<p>Moving wildlife also may introduce new genes elsewhere, leading to genetic shifts over time that <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2014.00015">didn’t evolve through natural selection</a>. Animals that are successful in a region tend to leave more offspring, and the heritable genetic variation tied to that success becomes more common and associated with the local environment. These are important relationships to safeguard.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/534907/original/file-20230629-25-u5utdu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A juvenile raccoon on a lawn, looking startled." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/534907/original/file-20230629-25-u5utdu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/534907/original/file-20230629-25-u5utdu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534907/original/file-20230629-25-u5utdu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534907/original/file-20230629-25-u5utdu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534907/original/file-20230629-25-u5utdu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534907/original/file-20230629-25-u5utdu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534907/original/file-20230629-25-u5utdu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A young raccoon that appeared abandoned was soon retrieved by its mother. Raccoons spend many months with their parent after leaving the nest.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Julian Avery</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Moving animals also can cause immediate harm. Transported animals often can’t survive in a territory other animals have already claimed, or the new arrivals may do damage – for example, by preying on vulnerable local species. Wildlife managers may have to move them into captivity <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/05/24/1177857710/bison-calf-yellowstone-man">or even euthanize them</a>. </p>
<p>Some species can spread pathogens to other wildlife or humans. At a minimum, moving animals can <a href="https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/scrap-trap-when-evicting-wildlife">disorient them</a> and make it hard for them to settle, find food and water or avoid predators. </p>
<h2>It’s usually best to keep your distance</h2>
<p>In general, your default choice should be not to interfere or interact with wildlife. Knowing that humans are nearby <a href="https://theconversation.com/dont-hike-so-close-to-me-how-the-presence-of-humans-can-disturb-wildlife-up-to-half-a-mile-away-162223">stresses animals</a>. It makes them move away or forage and behave differently, and it can harm their body condition by <a href="https://now.tufts.edu/2016/07/12/stress-wild">triggering stress responses</a> that ultimately reduce their fertility.</p>
<p>It’s especially common for people to see baby animals or birds, seemingly alone, and feel compelled to help. In fact, the parents may have secured their young and be actively caring for them, or the young animals may already be independent. </p>
<p>The amount of parental care that different species provide ranges from zero to a lot. For example, once a female turtle chooses a nest site with warm temperatures and the right amount of soil moisture, she lays her eggs and moves on. Hatchling turtles don’t need help unless they’re near <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ctmu3kEg7-2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">pets or roads</a>. </p>
<p>Rattlesnakes will bask in the sun to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1670/18-073">help their embryos be born live and healthy</a>. Many mammals <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CB1M0QVgtuP/">hide their young during the day</a> and care for them for months. </p>
<p>Bluebirds and tree swallows work tirelessly to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12997">feed their young, even after fledging</a>. In contrast, other birds kick their young out at an early stage so they can start the next clutch. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/534931/original/file-20230629-25340-7yoje7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/534931/original/file-20230629-25340-7yoje7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534931/original/file-20230629-25340-7yoje7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534931/original/file-20230629-25340-7yoje7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534931/original/file-20230629-25340-7yoje7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534931/original/file-20230629-25340-7yoje7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/534931/original/file-20230629-25340-7yoje7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Golden-crowned kinglets, like this male, work together to raise 1-2 large broods a season. The male may even take over feeding fledglings as the female prepares the next clutch of 3-11 eggs.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Julian Avery</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Whatever the species, young and inexperienced animals without parents nearby may either be learning how to navigate or have been left hidden by their parents on purpose.</p>
<p>Parents do occasionally abandon their young. They may do it on purpose because their offspring are unfit, or because the parents aren’t fit enough to raise them. Or perhaps the parents have gotten lost. Whatever the reason, natural selection likely means these individuals and their gene complexes will not continue forward – and that benefits the species overall.</p>
<h2>Put the animal’s needs before your own</h2>
<p>It’s well established that getting close to nature is <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/health-benefits-of-being-outdoors">good for people’s mental health</a>. I believe it’s very important to <a href="https://theconversation.com/its-ok-to-feed-wild-birds-here-are-some-tips-for-doing-it-the-right-way-131371">foster human connections to nature</a> and facilitate these connections for people who have little exposure to the outdoors. </p>
<p>I advocate a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdvOZYOgDma/">mindful and hands-on approach</a> to being outside. For example, I don’t touch animals that are rare unless it’s part of my research or covered by permits. If I handle an aquatic animal, I make sure my hands are wet and free of chemicals. </p>
<p>However, animals’ needs should come first. Whenever humans are active in an animal’s habitat, they can <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/ornithapp/duaa066">degrade it</a> and lead the animals to seek other space. </p>
<p>Some wild animals may be abandoned or alone acting strangely because they are sick or generally unfit. People who handle these animals risk contracting <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.582743">zoonotic diseases</a>, such as <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/s0506-zoonotic-diseases-shared.html">rabies, plague and avian influenza</a>. Sometimes an unhealthy animal needs to be left alone to avoid spreading infection. </p>
<p>There also are animals that pretend to be injured or dead as a defense strategy. A casual observer may think a rescue is necessary, but don’t make assumptions. For example, Virginia opossums play dead in an involuntary fixed response to fear called <a href="https://asknature.org/strategy/opossums-feign-death-to-evade-predators/">defensive thanatosis</a>. They can’t control it, but within minutes to hours, they’re up and back to normal.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="InstagramEmbed" data-react-props="{"url":"https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpQ_X6FALVq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link\u0026igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==","accessToken":"127105130696839|b4b75090c9688d81dfd245afe6052f20"}"></div></p>
<h2>When and how to help</h2>
<p>Here are some guidelines for when and how to intervene in ways that minimize harm to wildlife.</p>
<p>First, don’t relocate animals over significant distances. An animal that accidentally hitches a ride over long distances, such as a treefrog under your bumper, shouldn’t be released in a new host area. </p>
<p>Helping an animal cross a busy road is OK if you move it in the direction in which it is already headed. This is particularly true for animals that live a long time and reproduce slowly, like <a href="http://northeastparc.org/box-turtle-educational-info/">box turtles</a>, which are declining across North America. Ensuring the survival of a single adult female box turtle can be very important to the success of a local population. </p>
<p>Second, respect the rules at national, state and local parks. Parks often protect at-risk species that can’t safely interact with humans. For example, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/moja/learn/nature/desert-tortoise.htm">desert tortoises</a> may urinate as a defense when picked up, which reduces their internal water supply. </p>
<p>Learn to identify common species that can handle human curiosity and make good ambassadors for biodiversity. Many state agencies have a website or atlas for major wildlife groups that will help you learn which species are widespread or more rare. Most ponds have a common frog that’s sure to catch your eye. </p>
<p><div data-react-class="InstagramEmbed" data-react-props="{"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/CeQ7Ka4Ow0d/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link\u0026igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==","accessToken":"127105130696839|b4b75090c9688d81dfd245afe6052f20"}"></div></p>
<p>Third, if you think an animal is truly in danger, call a local game warden, wildlife officer, rehab professional or park ranger for advice. If the animal is immediately at risk from a pet or approaching car, and you can reach it safely, put on some gloves and help it – but leave it traveling in the same direction it was moving, or near its local area, so that it doesn’t become disoriented and try to disperse into dangerous habitat.</p>
<p>Fourth, get out and explore. But remember that you’re a guest in the animals’ habitat – tread softly and respectfully. A fallen log can <a href="https://extension.psu.edu/dead-wood-for-wildlife">shelter all kinds of creatures</a>. Look underneath, and then place it back as it was so that it continues to be a home for them.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/207188/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Julian Avery does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>A newborn bison calf in Yellowstone National Park had to be euthanized after a visitor handled it in May 2023 – a recent example of how trying to help wild animals often harms them.Julian Avery, Associate Research Professor of Wildlife Conservation, Penn StateLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2069382023-06-07T20:06:59Z2023-06-07T20:06:59ZThe vast majority of Melburnians want more nature in their city, despite a puzzling north-south divide<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530213/original/file-20230605-17-5zryct.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C4028%2C2681&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>When we were asked to survey people in Melbourne about their relationship with nature, little did we know <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320723000848">our findings</a> would reinforce a <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/never-cross-the-river-inside-melbourne-s-north-south-divide-20210527-p57vps.html">well-known cultural divide</a> between those living north and south of the Yarra River. Residents of neighbourhoods to the south were overall less connected to nature. </p>
<p>But perhaps a more important finding was that people in Melbourne overwhelmingly supported the creation of more space for nature in the city. </p>
<p>The City of Melbourne commissioned the study and is already applying its findings in programs that aim to foster residents’ connection with nature.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530020/original/file-20230605-17-10occ9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Colour-coded map show average connection to nature for neighbourhoods across Melbourne" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530020/original/file-20230605-17-10occ9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530020/original/file-20230605-17-10occ9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=602&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530020/original/file-20230605-17-10occ9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=602&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530020/original/file-20230605-17-10occ9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=602&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530020/original/file-20230605-17-10occ9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=756&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530020/original/file-20230605-17-10occ9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=756&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530020/original/file-20230605-17-10occ9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=756&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The differences in connection to nature north and south of the Yarra River, with green areas being neighbourhoods with higher average connection to nature and yellow areas having lower average connection.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320723000848">Selinske et al 2023</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-if-urban-plans-gave-natural-systems-the-space-to-recover-from-the-cities-built-over-them-it-can-be-done-199388">What if urban plans gave natural systems the space to recover from the cities built over them? It can be done</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>What did the study find?</h2>
<p>In our survey of nearly 1,600 residents, commuters and visitors to Melbourne, 86% wanted the city to create more space for nature. Their reasons included:</p>
<ul>
<li>to promote mental and physical wellbeing</li>
<li>to conserve native plants and wildlife in the city</li>
<li>civic pride </li>
<li>a belief that if Melbourne could create more nature it would help attract more visitors and help the city’s post-pandemic recovery.</li>
</ul>
<p>Nearly 75% of respondents had a high connection to nature. More than 75% said they were concerned about climate change and the destruction of nature. </p>
<p>These figures should give heart to anyone promoting greening or conservation actions in the city – the public has your back.</p>
<p>Retirees and university students who had lived most of their lives within the greater Melbourne area had the lowest connection to nature. Despite there generally being <a href="https://www.greenerspacesbetterplaces.com.au/media/163315/where-will-all-the-trees-be-benchmarking-report-2020.pdf">more tree cover</a> and beach access south of the Yarra, residents of those areas tend to have a lower connection to nature than those to the north.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Two kookaburras perched on a metal arch" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530221/original/file-20230606-19-kxvpkd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530221/original/file-20230606-19-kxvpkd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530221/original/file-20230606-19-kxvpkd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530221/original/file-20230606-19-kxvpkd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530221/original/file-20230606-19-kxvpkd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530221/original/file-20230606-19-kxvpkd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530221/original/file-20230606-19-kxvpkd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">City parks with high biodiversity help strengthen people’s connection with nature.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Why promote people’s connection with nature?</h2>
<p>The City of Melbourne commissioned the study as part of its <a href="https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/community/greening-the-city/urban-nature/Pages/nature-in-the-city-strategy.aspx">Nature in the City Strategy</a>. Its aim, in part, is to “create a more diverse, connected and resilient natural environment” and “connect people to nature”. </p>
<p>The strategy set this target: “By 2027, more residents, workers and visitors encounter, value and understand nature in the city more than they did in 2017.” </p>
<p>Connection to nature is the extent to which an individual identifies with nature. It stems from a belief that we all have a natural affinity for nature, known as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/biophilia-hypothesis">biophilia</a>.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-we-love-the-great-outdoors-new-research-shows-part-of-the-answer-is-in-our-genes-175995">Why do we love the great outdoors? New research shows part of the answer is in our genes</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Nature anywhere can offer respite from stresses and be a source of inspiration, creativity and spiritual connection. But individuals have varying levels of connection to nature, which may change during their lifetime. </p>
<p>If you have high level of connection you may feel a real kinship with nature. It’s an important part of your life. People with high connection to nature are more likely to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494418302135">support environmental policies</a>, take part in <a href="https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cobi.13381">conservation activities</a> and have <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212041614001648">higher wellbeing</a>.</p>
<p>Those who feel less connected are less likely to engage with nature. Their wellbeing can suffer as a result. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530024/original/file-20230605-15-efuzlj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Horizontal chart showing extent of agreement or disagreement from respondents about each potential barriers to engaging with nature" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530024/original/file-20230605-15-efuzlj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530024/original/file-20230605-15-efuzlj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=429&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530024/original/file-20230605-15-efuzlj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=429&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530024/original/file-20230605-15-efuzlj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=429&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530024/original/file-20230605-15-efuzlj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=539&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530024/original/file-20230605-15-efuzlj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=539&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530024/original/file-20230605-15-efuzlj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=539&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Barriers to engaging with nature as identified from responses to the survey.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320723000848">Selinske et al 2023</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Exposure to and engagement with nature are important for our physical and mental health. <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/sciadv.aax0903">Studies</a> have shown exposure to natural environments reduces blood pressure and stress levels, and improves cardiovascular health. </p>
<p>Nature also fosters emotional wellbeing. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/srep28551">Research</a> has consistently shown spending time in nature reduces anxiety, depression and mental fatigue.</p>
<p>This is especially important for <a href="https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(23)03640-X">stressed city residents</a>. As well as its health benefits, urban nature has positive impacts on our mood, crime rates, social cohesion and quality of life.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/biodiversity-and-our-brains-how-ecology-and-mental-health-go-together-in-our-cities-126760">Biodiversity and our brains: how ecology and mental health go together in our cities</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/1-in-4-australians-is-lonely-quality-green-spaces-in-our-cities-offer-a-solution-188007">1 in 4 Australians is lonely. Quality green spaces in our cities offer a solution</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>So how do we bring people closer to nature?</h2>
<p>The reasons for the north-south divide in residents’ connections to nature aren’t clear and require more research. However, the other findings are already being applied to strategies to help people engage with nature and enjoy the benefits.</p>
<p><a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/fee.2035">Research</a> has shown young people’s connection to nature tends to decline when they reached their mid-teens. While there might be a spike in connection as they reach their 20s, it can plateau by later adulthood. </p>
<p>Young people go through many changes in their lives before adulthood. For many, other activities take priority over spending time in nature. Re-engagement strategies could include more nature-based social events for teens and young adults, to help sustain their connection to nature through to adulthood.</p>
<p>While some retirees had strong knowledge of Australian biodiversity, their low connection to nature could be due to lack of mobility and social connection. One possible way to re-engage this group is to bring nature to them. We could set up more community gardens near them, creating social opportunities as well, or make nature part of their homes. </p>
<p>In response to our findings, the City of Melbourne ran online workshops to identify where retirees engage in nature, how connections with nature are formed, and possible barriers and strategies to strengthen these connections.</p>
<p>New residents of Australia are a really engaged, environmentally conscious group. Finding ways to increase their local biodiversity knowledge may create stronger ties to the Melbourne area and foster emerging conservation allies. The City of Melbourne is planning programs to increase learning opportunities for these residents who identified awareness as a barrier to taking part in conservation activities.</p>
<p>The city council can also make structural changes to increase the time people spend in nature. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1618866721002016">Biodiverse</a> streetscapes and green buildings can enhance exposure and connection to nature for residents and visitors.</p>
<p>For starters, the council could green streets while reducing traffic by <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/push-to-convert-thousands-of-cbd-parking-spots-into-green-space-20221129-p5c265.html">converting</a> parking spaces into gardens and passing <a href="https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/building-and-development/urban-planning/melbourne-planning-scheme/planning-scheme-amendments/Pages/amendment-c376-sustainable-building-design.aspx">Amendment C376 for Sustainable Building Design</a>. This change to the planning scheme will increase green roofs and walls and the number of trees in the city. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/heres-how-to-design-cities-where-people-and-nature-can-both-flourish-102849">Here's how to design cities where people and nature can both flourish</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530001/original/file-20230605-127838-8tm7xh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530001/original/file-20230605-127838-8tm7xh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530001/original/file-20230605-127838-8tm7xh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530001/original/file-20230605-127838-8tm7xh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530001/original/file-20230605-127838-8tm7xh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530001/original/file-20230605-127838-8tm7xh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530001/original/file-20230605-127838-8tm7xh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Some residents were concerned that development is reducing the amount of nature in Melbourne.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Kon Karampelas/Unsplash</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Scaling up voluntary programs, such as the <a href="https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/community/greening-the-city/urban-forest-fund/pages/apply-partnership-urban-forest-fund.aspx">City of Melbourne Urban Forest Fund’s Habitat Grants</a> and <a href="https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/community/greening-the-city/urban-nature/gardens-wildlife/Pages/gardens-for-wildlife.aspx#:%7E:text=Gardens%20for%20Wildlife%20supports%20the,can%20help%20promote%20urban%20biodiversity.">Gardens for Wildlife Program</a>, will expand community efforts to create places for nature. </p>
<p>As Melbourne recovers from pandemic lockdowns and becomes the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/17/melbourne-overtakes-sydney-as-australias-most-populous-city">most populated urban area</a> in Australia, making more space for nature is vital to maintain and increase the city’s liveability. Most Melburnians would agree. </p>
<p>We all benefit from spending time in nature whether that takes place north or south of the Yarra.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-daily-doses-of-nature-in-the-city-matter-for-people-and-the-planet-106918">Why daily doses of nature in the city matter for people and the planet</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<hr>
<p><em>The author acknowledges and thanks Blake Alexander Simmons, Environmental Social Scientist at Tampa Bay Estuary Program, and Lee Harrison, Senior Ecologist at City of Melbourne, co-authors of the peer-reviewed study published in Biological Conservation.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/206938/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Matthew Selinske receives funding from Australian Research Council and the City of Melbourne and is a board member of the Society for Conservation Biology's Social Science Working Group.</span></em></p>A public survey found 86% of people want more space for nature in the city. The city council is already taking steps to add green space and increase biodiversity, which should boost public wellbeing.Matthew Selinske, Senior Research Fellow, RMIT UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2064772023-06-02T13:35:30Z2023-06-02T13:35:30Z‘Clubbing a bunny to death is very effective but it sure does look bad’: the inside stories of urban animal control<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529813/original/file-20230602-17-yhsk0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=252%2C202%2C4347%2C3530&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Public acceptance of killing urban wild animals varies.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/close-shot-curious-cautious-cute-brown-1770620642">Elena Berd/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>In July 2022, a walrus, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62556295">affectionately nicknamed Freya</a>, was culled near Norway’s capital city in the Oslo fjord – crowds of people approaching her meant there was a potential risk to human safety. The loss of this charismatic and seemingly peaceful animal sparked a global outcry. Last month, an online campaign funded the <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/30/europe/freya-walrus-statue-unveiled-intl/index.html">erection of a statue</a> in Oslo in Freya’s honour.</p>
<p>But while some wild animal culls go viral, a great many more urban wildlife deaths go unnoticed and unchallenged. Rat carcasses, for example, are disposed of discreetly and urban residents even <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/aug/03/deer-hosts-for-ticks-experts-debate-rise-in-lyme-disease">push for increased culling of deer</a> that feed on their tulip beds or spread ticks. </p>
<p>To understand what determines the diverse reactions to animal culls, I <a href="https://brill.com/view/journals/soan/aop/article-10.1163-15685306-bja10129/article-10.1163-15685306-bja10129.xml?language=en">interviewed and observed</a> municipal cullers in Sweden. These cullers do the dirty work of disposing of wild animals that pose a threat to biosecurity, public safety and human infrastructure. </p>
<p>It seems that while the species of animal predictably mattered, factors such as the location, timing, methods used, people involved and the reasons for the cull also influenced whether cullers encountered public opposition. Any misjudgement made in the culling process could have repercussions in terms of social acceptance, further complicating future culls. This is especially relevant in today’s world as people frequently use their mobile phones to record and share what they see.</p>
<h2>What and where to cull?</h2>
<p>Humans value some species over others (a concept called <a href="https://thehumaneleague.org/article/speciesism">speciesism</a>) and will defend them despite their damages being comparable. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/rat">Rats</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/rabbit">rabbits</a> both chew wires and transmit diseases and parasites, but the cullers we interviewed mentioned that “people have a whole different outlook” on these two species.</p>
<p>They also stated that “the cuter the critters, the bigger the villains we are, and vice versa”. In one instance, cullers were rewarded with cake after removing <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/wild-boar-1843748">wild boar</a> from an area where they were recently introduced. The boars were deemed “big and ugly and in the way, scaring children”. By contrast, when called in to kill large carnivores like <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/gray-wolf">wolves</a> that had sustained injuries in traffic accidents, cullers had to mask their identities and often relied on police escorts.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A grey wolf in a snowy forest." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529755/original/file-20230602-23-eq3f93.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529755/original/file-20230602-23-eq3f93.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529755/original/file-20230602-23-eq3f93.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529755/original/file-20230602-23-eq3f93.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529755/original/file-20230602-23-eq3f93.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529755/original/file-20230602-23-eq3f93.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529755/original/file-20230602-23-eq3f93.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The grey wolf.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/grey-wolf-snowy-forest-1585152148">GTS Productions/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>People’s treatment of individual animals from the same species can vary. If large birds are perceived as causing disturbances to both people and recreational activities, they are often culled without much consideration. In 2018, for example, a male <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/swan">swan</a> living on a canal in the Swedish city of Malmö was <a href="https://www.thelocal.se/20190408/malmo-swan-shot-by-hunters-after-scaring-children">shot dead by professional hunters</a> after showing signs of aggression towards passers-by. But, as the swan was seen as a prominent feature of the city, the culler received death threats.</p>
<p>There are certain locations for which the killing of wild animals is deemed unacceptable by onlookers. The cullers we interviewed were expected to carry out their activities discreetly as they often faced criticism when culling animals in crowded areas. </p>
<p>Some cullers, for example, had experience killing rabbits and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/deer">deer</a> in kindergartens. One culler recalled having “to ask the kids to go inside” as it caused children distress to see animals being killed and regularly led to confrontation with teachers.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Young girl standing in front of a deer." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529759/original/file-20230602-29-w4rese.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529759/original/file-20230602-29-w4rese.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529759/original/file-20230602-29-w4rese.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529759/original/file-20230602-29-w4rese.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529759/original/file-20230602-29-w4rese.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529759/original/file-20230602-29-w4rese.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529759/original/file-20230602-29-w4rese.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The killing of wild animals is deemed unacceptable in certain locations.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/young-4-year-old-girl-temple-1624722184">Rachel Blaser/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>When, how and who?</h2>
<p>In line with operating discreetly, cullers noted having to become as crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) as the animals they hunted. One culler noted receiving “a lot less yelling at me and fewer questions when you’re out at night and early mornings”. </p>
<p>Animal culling can also be unpalatable to the eye. Certain culls – particularly those involving brute force or the deaths of other animals – violate public standards.</p>
<p>One culler explained that “clubbing a bunny to death is very effective and it dies right away, but it sure does look bad”. By contrast, those who had carried out culls using a shot with a silencer from a vehicle had encountered much less criticism. </p>
<p>Having the wrong people carry out animal culls risks upsetting bystanders. During our interviews, cullers emphasised the importance of being locally recognised, with good people management skills to defuse conflicts. One said: “The last thing you want is some macho hunter to come in and finish the job, with no people skills.”</p>
<h2>What’s the reason?</h2>
<p>Some animals are simply unwelcome in cities. The mere presence of wild boars in urban areas of Sweden still triggers culls, regardless of what they are doing. </p>
<p>However, certain animals were deemed cullable only under specific circumstances. If an animal was perceived as being behaviourally or geographically out of line, such as a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/moose-mammal">moose</a> terrorising shoppers outside a shopping centre, then the public generally supported its removal. </p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529758/original/file-20230602-23-s5w88a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A small child is looking at two big big moose in the backyard." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529758/original/file-20230602-23-s5w88a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529758/original/file-20230602-23-s5w88a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529758/original/file-20230602-23-s5w88a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529758/original/file-20230602-23-s5w88a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529758/original/file-20230602-23-s5w88a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529758/original/file-20230602-23-s5w88a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529758/original/file-20230602-23-s5w88a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">People deemed certain animals such as moose (pictured) as cullable only under specific circumstances.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/small-child-looking-two-big-moose-2209423387">Birgit Ryningen/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>But in another example, cullers recounted having to involve the police to remove a girl who was protecting a moose that had been hit by a car. </p>
<p>So the public can be contradictory in its defence of animals. But cullers also exhibited similar idiosyncrasies themselves. One culler, who was routinely called out to cull birds in his city “drew the line” at culling a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/nightingale-bird">nightingale</a> that kept a resident up at night. </p>
<p>In some parts of the world, animal rights organisations call for lethal removals of problematic wildlife to be <a href="https://www.paws.org/resources/how-to-become-a-wildlife-rehabilitator/">replaced by rescues or relocations</a>. But the future is somewhat unpredictable. As cities continue to encroach on animals’ habitats, human interaction with wild animals will become increasingly common. </p>
<p>What’s clear, though, is that the situation calls for the development of a wildlife etiquette within the general public. This involves understanding how to behave in a manner that prevents the emergence of problematic wild animals in the first place. These animals are often faultless and have been conditioned to lose their shyness.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/206477/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Erica von Essen receives funding from Formas, Dnr 2019-01168</span></em></p>Here’s what determines if a problematic wild animal is saveable or cullable.Erica von Essen, Associate Professor of Environmental Communication, Stockholm UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2058412023-05-22T04:28:04Z2023-05-22T04:28:04ZWith hundreds of call-outs every day, wildlife rescue services can help us understand the threats to our native animals<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527366/original/file-20230521-27-chbbcg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C1%2C1279%2C956&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Elodie Camprasse</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Imagine coming across an injured kangaroo on the side of the road. Or a bat entangled in fruit tree netting. Would you know who to call to get help? </p>
<p>After a quick search, you find the number of your local wildlife rescue service and give them a call. A trained operator gathers the information they need to assess your case and coordinate rescue and rehabilitation if needed. </p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527395/original/file-20230522-120734-jy804v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A pink, almost hairless baby wombat wrapped in a cloth" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527395/original/file-20230522-120734-jy804v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527395/original/file-20230522-120734-jy804v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=797&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527395/original/file-20230522-120734-jy804v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=797&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527395/original/file-20230522-120734-jy804v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=797&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527395/original/file-20230522-120734-jy804v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1002&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527395/original/file-20230522-120734-jy804v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1002&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527395/original/file-20230522-120734-jy804v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1002&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A rescued wombat joey.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Elodie Camprasse</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Across Australia, wildlife emergency response hotlines, such as <a href="https://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/">Wildlife Victoria</a> in Victoria, <a href="https://www.wires.org.au/">WIRES</a> in New South Wales and smaller groups throughout the country, offer valuable help to wildlife and members of the public who encounter wildlife emergencies. Data from these services can also help us understand how human activities harm wildlife at a local level. And that in turn highlights what can be done to better protect wildlife. </p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/5/683">newly published research</a>, our team analysed a ten-year dataset from Wildlife Victoria, the main wildlife emergency response service in that state. The service responded to more than 30,000 cases a year, on average, between 2010 and 2019. Around 400 cases a year involved threatened species.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/10-million-animals-are-hit-on-our-roads-each-year-heres-how-you-can-help-them-and-steer-clear-of-them-these-holidays-149733">10 million animals are hit on our roads each year. Here’s how you can help them (and steer clear of them) these holidays</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Human activities are the greatest threat</h2>
<p>Many such services operate on a daily basis. They collect enormous amounts of information on human and non-human threats to wildlife, particularly in urban areas. </p>
<p>When you call a service about an animal, a rescuer might need to attend or, if safe to do so, you might be asked to <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-happens-after-you-take-injured-wildlife-to-the-vet-109084">take the animal to a vet clinic free of charge</a> for assessment. Or it might be that the animal, such as a fledgling bird on the ground, just needs to be left alone.</p>
<figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527396/original/file-20230522-126079-lvwn0g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Two kangaroo joeys wrapped in blankets being bottlefed" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527396/original/file-20230522-126079-lvwn0g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527396/original/file-20230522-126079-lvwn0g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=802&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527396/original/file-20230522-126079-lvwn0g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=802&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527396/original/file-20230522-126079-lvwn0g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=802&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527396/original/file-20230522-126079-lvwn0g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1007&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527396/original/file-20230522-126079-lvwn0g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1007&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527396/original/file-20230522-126079-lvwn0g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1007&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Eastern grey kangaroos are among the most commonly rescued animals.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Elodie Camprasse</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Confirming what studies <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0206958">in Australia</a> and <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0238805">elsewhere</a> have shown, our results demonstrate that human activities do the most harm to wildlife, as opposed to more natural causes such as severe weather or being preyed on by other animals. A majority of cases were reported in the Greater Melbourne area rather than the rest of the state. </p>
<p>As might be expected, common species accounted for most cases. Eastern grey kangaroos, ringtail and brushtail possums and magpies were the most commonly reported species. </p>
<p>Of 443 identified species reported to the service, 81 were listed as threatened. The majority of cases involving threatened species (on the <a href="https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/conserving-threatened-species/threatened-list">Fauna and Flaura Guarantee Act 1988 Threatened List</a>) concerned grey-headed flying foxes. </p>
<p>Generally, the main causes for concern were <a href="https://theconversation.com/10-million-animals-are-hit-on-our-roads-each-year-heres-how-you-can-help-them-and-steer-clear-of-them-these-holidays-149733">collisions with vehicles</a>, animals found in an abnormal location (an unnatural habitat where they did not belong) or in buildings, and attacks by cats or dogs. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-happens-after-you-take-injured-wildlife-to-the-vet-109084">What happens after you take injured wildlife to the vet?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Some species were disproportionately impacted by some threats rather than others and in some locations. For example, kangaroos and koalas were more likely to be victims of vehicle collisions outside Greater Melbourne. In contrast, ringtail possums were more likely to be attacked by cats within the metropolitan area. </p>
<p>Flying foxes were more frequently reported within Greater Melbourne. The main cause of concern was entanglements in nets such as fruit tree netting. The data thus confirmed the danger these nets present. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="flying fox wrapped in a purple towel" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527393/original/file-20230521-186520-fjyr76.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527393/original/file-20230521-186520-fjyr76.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527393/original/file-20230521-186520-fjyr76.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527393/original/file-20230521-186520-fjyr76.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527393/original/file-20230521-186520-fjyr76.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=630&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527393/original/file-20230521-186520-fjyr76.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=630&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527393/original/file-20230521-186520-fjyr76.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=630&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Data from wildlife rescue services confirm just how dangerous netting can be for threatened flying foxes.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Elodie Camprasse</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/our-laws-failed-these-endangered-flying-foxes-at-every-turn-on-saturday-cairns-council-will-put-another-nail-in-the-coffin-141116">Our laws failed these endangered flying-foxes at every turn. On Saturday, Cairns council will put another nail in the coffin</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Services struggle to keep up with demand</h2>
<p>Worryingly, Wildlife Victoria recorded a 2.5-fold increase in reported cases from 2010 to 2019. </p>
<p>However, such services are often under-resourced. While the number of cases increased, the number of volunteers able to respond to cases did not. This means a lower proportion of all cases can receive the support they need. </p>
<p>Using data from services such as Wildlife Victoria can help us understand service-demand gaps and where resources would be best allocated to fill these gaps. </p>
<p>We also showed such services provide invaluable education to the community. Around one in five calls resulted in education, rather than requiring an emergency response. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A vet checks a sedated koala" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527394/original/file-20230522-182376-jhb4g9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527394/original/file-20230522-182376-jhb4g9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527394/original/file-20230522-182376-jhb4g9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527394/original/file-20230522-182376-jhb4g9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527394/original/file-20230522-182376-jhb4g9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527394/original/file-20230522-182376-jhb4g9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527394/original/file-20230522-182376-jhb4g9.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Researchers have used rescue service data to show how a public education campaign reduced harm to koalas.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/veterinarian-checking-a-koala-5487067/">Pexels</a>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/testing-the-stress-levels-of-rescued-koalas-allows-us-to-tweak-their-care-so-more-survive-in-the-wild-196224">Testing the stress levels of rescued koalas allows us to tweak their care so more survive in the wild</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Databases are a largely untapped resource</h2>
<p>Wildlife emergency response services have a wealth of data that describe the species-specific and location-specific threats wildlife face. Local wildlife managers and organisations interested in protecting wildlife from common threats before they occur could use this data to understand what they can do to achieve this. </p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527397/original/file-20230522-180224-eq0qvh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Rainbow lorikeet being held in a white towel at the vet" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527397/original/file-20230522-180224-eq0qvh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/527397/original/file-20230522-180224-eq0qvh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=799&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527397/original/file-20230522-180224-eq0qvh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=799&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527397/original/file-20230522-180224-eq0qvh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=799&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527397/original/file-20230522-180224-eq0qvh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1004&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527397/original/file-20230522-180224-eq0qvh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1004&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/527397/original/file-20230522-180224-eq0qvh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1004&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The services’ data can be used to identify causes of harm to wildlife. This rainbow lorikeet flew into a window.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Elodie Camprasse</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>For example, the data can help pinpoint where measures such as educating the community on responsible pet ownership, banning the sale of dangerous netting or wire and reducing speed limits would be effective depending on the wildlife affected in specific areas. </p>
<p>The data could also help monitor the success of new laws, campaigns and measures to protect wildlife. For example, researchers in Queensland have used data from their local wildlife rescue services to <a href="https://news.griffith.edu.au/2022/07/19/griffith-not-leaving-koalas-futures-to-chance/">quantify the reduction in koala deaths</a> from car strikes and dog attacks following a campaign to raise awareness of threats to koalas. This source of information is invaluable because such data can be hard and costly for ecologists and conversationists to collect. </p>
<p>Interested in interacting with Wildlife Victoria’s historical data? Check out <a href="https://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/wildlife-information/historical-data">this webpage</a>. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-sad-reality-is-many-dont-survive-how-floods-affect-wildlife-and-how-you-can-help-them-178310">'The sad reality is many don't survive': how floods affect wildlife, and how you can help them</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/205841/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Dr Elodie Camprasse was employed as an Emergency Response Operator for Wildlife Victoria from October 2016 to August 2021. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Dr Adam Cardilini is a member of the Animal Justice Party and volunteers in it's policy working group. He is also a fellow at PAN Works (<a href="https://panworks.io/">https://panworks.io/</a>), an international ethics think tank dedicated to the wellbeing of animals.
The work in this article was partly supported by funding from Deakin University. </span></em></p>It can be hard and costly to collect data on the threats to species at specific locations. Wildlife emergency response services have long-running records for hundreds of species that suffered harm.Elodie Camprasse, Research fellow in spider crab ecology, Deakin UniversityAdam Cardilini, Lecturer, Environmental Science, School of Life and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2043792023-05-04T13:43:07Z2023-05-04T13:43:07ZCape Town’s caracals have metal pollutants in their blood – an environmental red flag<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/522774/original/file-20230425-2394-iok407.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=6%2C507%2C4019%2C2124&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">A caracal monitored by the Urban Caracal Project, TMC33 Hermes, walks across a pipeline in Cape Town. </span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Kris Marx</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>South Africa is urbanising rapidly. By <a href="https://pmg.org.za/page/Urbanisation">2050</a>, eight in 10 people will live in urban areas, significantly increasing the demands on basic infrastructure development and associated services.</p>
<p>In the country’s Western Cape province, some 90% of the population is urbanised. Most of its residents live in the <a href="https://www.westerncape.gov.za/provincial-treasury/files/atoms/files/City%20of%20Cape%20Town%20SEP-LG%202022%20.pdf">Cape Metropolitan Area</a>. So it is truly remarkable that the city is still home to a population of between 60 and 100 wild <a href="http://www.urbancaracal.org/">caracals</a>.</p>
<p>Hikers on Table Mountain’s trails and greenbelts may have briefly spotted one of these elusive cats with their reddish-brown coat and tufted ears before they disappeared into the dense vegetation.</p>
<p>Having survived the <a href="https://www.academia.edu/1487856/Keeping_the_Enemy_at_Bay_The_Extermination_of_Wild_Carnivora_in_the_Cape_Colony_1889_1910">eradication</a> of larger carnivores like the Cape leopard and lion, this highly adaptable, medium-sized wild cat is now Cape Town’s apex wildlife predator.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.urbancaracal.org/">Urban Caracal Project</a>, a research and education initiative based at the University of Cape Town’s <a href="http://www.icwild.uct.ac.za">Institute for Wildlife and Communities in Africa</a>, is dedicated to studying Cape Town’s caracal population. It aims to better understand the effects of urbanisation on the city’s wildlife and to discover some of the secrets of how they are able to survive in this challenging landscape.</p>
<p>But surviving in a rapidly expanding city isn’t easy. Indeed, it can be <a href="https://theconversation.com/toxic-cities-urban-wildlife-affected-by-exposure-to-pollutants-127590">downright dangerous</a> thanks to, among other issues, the increasing presence of environmental pollutants.</p>
<p>As conservation biologists, we are interested in how caracals become exposed to the multitude of pollutants associated with city-living. To do this, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749123005870">we tested</a> the blood of caracals in Cape Town and found worryingly high numbers of different metal pollutants present. Exposure to these metals, including aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury and lead, most likely occurs via the prey species that caracals consume. </p>
<p>This raises important environmental concerns for all the city’s residents – both wildlife and human.</p>
<h2>Metal pollutants are a global biodiversity threat</h2>
<p><a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.1c04158">Chemical pollution</a> is a growing global concern. Cities and rapidly developing countries are disproportionately affected because they are characterised by high levels of both industrial and human activity. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1018364722000465">Metallic chemical elements</a> are some of the most toxic and well-studied of these environmental chemical pollutants.</p>
<p>Most metals occur naturally in the Earth’s crust. However, numerous human activities increase the quantity of, and rate at which, metals are released into the environment. Major sources of metal pollution include coal power plants, mines, agricultural activities, and waste disposal sites like landfills and illegal dumps. </p>
<p>The most dangerous of the metal pollutants are mercury, arsenic, and lead. These can all be extremely toxic to animals and humans, even in small amounts.</p>
<p>Both animals and humans are generally exposed to harmful metals through food and water. After entering lower down the food chain, metals accumulate over time in bodily fluids and tissues via a process called <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/bioaccumulation">bioaccumulation</a>.
Pollutants then tend to move up through the food chain, becoming more concentrated through the process of <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40726-017-0061-9">biomagnification</a>.</p>
<p>Consequently, animals occupying higher positions across an ecosystem’s food web, especially top predators like caracals, are exposed to greater concentrations of pollutants than those lower down. Exposure to metal pollutants can reduce reproductive success. It also impacts the immune system, damages the nervous system, and increases the risk of cancer and cancer-related diseases. In acute cases it can lead to death.</p>
<h2>Detecting toxic metals in wildlife</h2>
<p>For <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749123005870">our research</a>, individual caracals were caught using cage traps and then sedated. A veterinarian then took blood samples. Caracals killed in vehicle collisions, and <a href="http://www.urbancaracal.org/report-sightings-roadkill">reported</a> by the public to the project, were also opportunistically sampled. </p>
<p>Our blood analysis revealed that most metals detected were not present at toxic levels. However, the worrying exceptions were arsenic and chromium, both of which pose serious health risks. Hunting at the urban edge and in places with more human activity, such as near roads, vineyards and suburbs, exposes caracals to a greater number of metals and at higher levels than when hunting further away from these areas.</p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/522947/original/file-20230426-186-uyicf4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/522947/original/file-20230426-186-uyicf4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/522947/original/file-20230426-186-uyicf4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=326&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/522947/original/file-20230426-186-uyicf4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=326&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/522947/original/file-20230426-186-uyicf4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=326&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/522947/original/file-20230426-186-uyicf4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=410&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/522947/original/file-20230426-186-uyicf4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=410&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/522947/original/file-20230426-186-uyicf4.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=410&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Diagram showing potential pathways of metal pollutant exposure in Cape Town caracals. Hg = mercury, As = arsenic, Se = selenium, Pb = lead, Al = aluminium.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Authors supplied</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This is very concerning given that our research has also shown a similar trend for caracal exposure to other pollutant stressors, including groups of man-made chemicals, like <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969722006738">organochlorines</a> and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969719306047">anticoagulant rodenticides</a> (rat poison), as well as novel <a href="https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-020-04075-5">pathogens</a>.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/cape-towns-caracals-are-exposed-to-harmful-forever-chemicals-through-their-diet-186314">Cape Town's caracals are exposed to harmful 'forever chemicals' through their diet</a>
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<h2>Dietary contamination through waterbirds</h2>
<p>Our most interesting and unexpected discovery was that caracals hunting within or nearby coastal and wetland areas in Cape Town, where they enjoy a diet rich in aquatic-adapted birds, were more exposed to harmful metals like arsenic, mercury, and selenium than those on the urban edges. </p>
<p>This suggests that aquatic prey species – seabirds and waterbirds like Cape cormorants, gulls, Egyptian geese, and yellow billed ducks – are likely the main source of metal exposure in caracal.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/522583/original/file-20230424-28-nqtw1e.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/522583/original/file-20230424-28-nqtw1e.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=289&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/522583/original/file-20230424-28-nqtw1e.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=289&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/522583/original/file-20230424-28-nqtw1e.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=289&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/522583/original/file-20230424-28-nqtw1e.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=363&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/522583/original/file-20230424-28-nqtw1e.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=363&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/522583/original/file-20230424-28-nqtw1e.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=363&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A caracal hunts cormorants in Cape Town.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Anya Adendorff</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Our findings highlight that Cape Town’s freshwater and marine systems are likely more polluted than expected. Aquatic environments generally act as long-term sinks which accumulate a range of pollutants. Coal combustion, emissions from domestic fuel burning, natural fires and untreated city wastewater are all likely sources of metal contamination. </p>
<p>This may have implications for the health of other mammalian and avian predators in our study area, as well as human health implications for local fishing communities and wider seafood consumers. </p>
<h2>Improving the city’s ecological health</h2>
<p>The City of Cape Town can do more to evaluate and mitigate this issue.</p>
<p>The first step is appropriate monitoring of the problem – identifying the sources and understanding the scale. Monitoring should be focused on the urban edge, waste management sites, water treatment plants, road run-off, and agricultural areas.</p>
<p>It is crucial to develop a robust local, provincial, and national pollutant monitoring programme using a variety of indicator species. Such species, including small and medium-sized carnivores, like caracals, together with aquatic animals, are especially sensitive to the effects of bioaccumulation. Monitoring populations and regularly testing for levels of pollutants in their tissues will provide a clearer understanding of Cape Town’s broader environmental health.</p>
<p>Other mitigation strategies include wetland and freshwater system clean-ups, implementing stricter regulations on fuel-burning emissions, improved treatment and disposal of city wastewater, and reduced use of agricultural pesticides. Taking these necessary steps will greatly improve both animal and human health.</p>
<p><em>Kim Helene Parker, a recent Masters graduate from the University of Cape Town, co-authored both this article and the research it is based on.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/204379/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Caracals are most likely being exposed to metals like arsenic, lead and mercury through their diet.Gabriella Leighton, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Rhodes UniversityJacqueline Bishop, Senior Lecturer in Conservation Ecology & Genetics, University of Cape TownLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2036382023-05-01T19:51:16Z2023-05-01T19:51:16ZHow greenwashing can lead us astray in the pursuit of wildlife-friendly gardens<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523462/original/file-20230428-24-z56vto.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=28%2C28%2C3826%2C2444&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">The greater the diversity of plant and animal species in a wildlife-friendly garden, the more healthy and resilient it is.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span></figcaption></figure><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100px; border: none; position: relative; z-index: 1;" allowtransparency="" allow="clipboard-read; clipboard-write" src="https://narrations.ad-auris.com/widget/the-conversation-canada/how-greenwashing-can-lead-us-astray-in-the-pursuit-of-wildlife-friendly-gardens" width="100%" height="400"></iframe>
<p>In recent years, declining wildlife populations have motivated people to find ways to protect and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2012.07.016">conserve the biodiversity</a> in their neighbourhoods. And one such initiative that has gained prominence is <a href="https://cwf-fcf.org/en/explore/gardening-for-wildlife/">wildlife-friendly gardening</a>. These urban gardens create a variety of habitats and conserve biodiversity.</p>
<p>Gardens on private property can make up considerable portions of the greenspace in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2006.11.009">urban landscapes</a>. And so, when individual gardeners decide to plant certain tree species or retain mature trees, these spaces can help meet wildlife needs in human-dominated areas.</p>
<p>But instead of focusing their limited time, energy and finances in these interventions that deliver effective results, many individual gardeners are falling prey to <a href="https://www.terrascope.com/blog/what-is-greenwashing-why-should-large-enterprises-care#:%7E:text=Greenwashing%20refers%20to%20the%20practice,without%20adequate%20evidence%2Dbacked%20data">greenwashing</a>. Greenwashing describes a practice whereby a product’s environmental benefits are exaggerated or misrepresented.</p>
<p>In my work as an ecologist, I have seen people spending money on products that have relatively smaller environmental benefits compared to alternative (and less costly) interventions.</p>
<h2>Hummingbirds don’t use birdhouses</h2>
<p>Hummingbird houses (also called hummingbird nest boxes or baskets) are small structures that are built from wood or straw. These products have been popping up in gardening catalogues and in the offerings of <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Eeaivnm-Hummingbird-Outdoors-Roosting-Chickadee/dp/B08NPHTW9L/ref=sr_1_13?crid=3P1K7X85UKP5L&keywords=hummingbird+nest&qid=1682940721&sprefix=hummingbird+nest%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-13">online vendors</a>. The concept is simple: hang the structures outdoors, wait patiently, and soon the nest boxes will be occupied by nest-building hummingbirds. </p>
<p>In much of North America, this intervention is targeted toward the <a href="https://www.bobvila.com/articles/hummingbird-nest/">ruby-throated hummingbird</a> — a common garden visitor with the largest geographical distribution of all hummingbirds. During its breeding season, its range extends beyond <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-throated_Hummingbird/maps-range">a million square kilometres</a>. </p>
<p>When I was first asked about the usefulness of hummingbird houses, I delved into the literature and found no evidence to suggest that hummingbirds actually <a href="https://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/attracting-hummingbirds/hummingbird-birdhouse/">use the hummingbird houses</a>. Many organizations working to conserve hummingbirds and other bird species have been trying to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NW.CornellLab/posts/weve-been-seeing-hummingbird-houses-for-sale-lately-and-want-to-send-a-friendly-/10156584877167543/">address this misinformation</a> and redirect gardeners.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A female ruby-throated hummingbird with her young ones in a nest built on a tall tree." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523458/original/file-20230428-28-8k3ua9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523458/original/file-20230428-28-8k3ua9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523458/original/file-20230428-28-8k3ua9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523458/original/file-20230428-28-8k3ua9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523458/original/file-20230428-28-8k3ua9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523458/original/file-20230428-28-8k3ua9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523458/original/file-20230428-28-8k3ua9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Ruby-throated hummingbirds build nests on tall deciduous tree.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Hummingbird nests tend to be very <a href="https://birdwatchingbuzz.com/hummingbird-nests/">hard to locate</a>, typically occurring high in the canopy of deciduous trees. While hummingbird houses are unlikely to have any negative impact, they are unlikely to provide much value to hummingbirds and can be a waste of time, energy and money. </p>
<p>Gardeners must, instead, maintain tree and shrub cover (so hummingbirds have a place to build their nests), and choose plants that <a href="https://hummingbirdscanada.ca/provinces/ontario/plants">produce lots of nectar</a>. If you want to provide a nesting structure for birds, <a href="https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/right-bird-right-house/">build or purchase a larger nest box</a> that will be used by other cavity nesting birds like the eastern bluebird, tree swallows or chickadees.</p>
<h2>Bee hotels are often occupied by wasps</h2>
<p>Of the 3,600 species of bee found in Canada and the United States, <a href="https://www.xerces.org/endangered-species/wild-bees">30 per cent are classified as cavity-nesters</a>. These bees create stores of pollen in protected cavities like the hollow ends of twigs or stems that are made by wood-boring insects. </p>
<p>In recent years, bee hotels have become widely available to provide cavity-nesting bees safe places to nest. Bee hotels are constructed from a variety of materials including hollow tubes or pithy stems, where a solitary bee can create her nest. </p>
<p>The idea behind this was that providing solitary bees with a selection of nesting sites would increase the populations of solitary bees (especially native species). </p>
<p>But research paints a more complex picture. A comprehensive study of bee hotels in Toronto found that native bees accounted for less than 25 per cent of the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0122126">insects using bee hotels</a>. Most of the residents using the “bee hotels” were solitary wasps, which usually form their nests from mud, providing their larvae with insects and spiders to eat.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/521113/original/file-20230415-26-lwuf65.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A collection of different bee hotels showing the variability in design, and negative interactions between" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/521113/original/file-20230415-26-lwuf65.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/521113/original/file-20230415-26-lwuf65.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=363&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/521113/original/file-20230415-26-lwuf65.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=363&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/521113/original/file-20230415-26-lwuf65.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=363&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/521113/original/file-20230415-26-lwuf65.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=456&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/521113/original/file-20230415-26-lwuf65.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=456&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/521113/original/file-20230415-26-lwuf65.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=456&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A. Bee hotel; B. Cartridge-style bee hotels made by bundling wood or plastic cartridges; C. Bee hotel having different nesting tube widths made of cardboard and enclosed in a PVC pipe for protection. D. Ant colony taking over an unmaintained bee hotel. E. An ichneumonid wasp parasitizing a mason bee through a cardboard nesting tube. F. Damage to the faceplate and nesting tubes in a bee hotel by an unknown bird.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0122126">(2015 MacIvor, Packer)</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>During the study, the authors found that native bees using the hotels were attacked by <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/parasitoid">parasitoids</a> at a rate about three times higher than introduced bee species. A parasitoid is an insect that feeds on tissues of an insect host (in this case, a bee) leading to the eventual death of the host. </p>
<p>The authors of the study found that at their worst, bee hotels might be serving as a way of concentrating bees into high density aggregations where they may be more vulnerable to predation, parasites or pathogens.</p>
<p>Most home gardeners find it difficult to determine whether the bee hotel is working as intended or to determine whether the bees within them are native or non-native. Understanding this before setting up such bee hotels is crucial because the rapid increase in non-native mason bee numbers has been linked to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-75566-9">the decline of native mason bees</a>, most likely through the transmission of diseases.</p>
<p>Choosing plants that offer <a href="https://xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/pollinator-friendly-plant-lists">lots of nectar and pollen</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1869">maintaining patches of bare soil</a> in a sunny part of the garden (most bees live in the soil) and retaining or bringing in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12128">deadwood</a> and old stems are all useful alternatives to bee hotels. </p>
<h2>Nature is messy</h2>
<p>Ecological systems are full of variation. The more <a href="https://homework.study.com/explanation/what-is-ecological-variation.html#:%7E:text=Ecological%20variation%20refers%20to%20the,the%20health%20of%20the%20ecosystem.">diversity in the plant and animal species</a> in it, the more healthy and resilient it is. A tidy and well-manicured garden may not fully support the needs of the native insects and birds.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A well-manicured garden with a row of houses in the background." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523590/original/file-20230501-26-4e90m3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/523590/original/file-20230501-26-4e90m3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523590/original/file-20230501-26-4e90m3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523590/original/file-20230501-26-4e90m3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523590/original/file-20230501-26-4e90m3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523590/original/file-20230501-26-4e90m3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/523590/original/file-20230501-26-4e90m3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A tidy and well-manicured garden may not fully support the needs of the native insects and birds.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>My advice to anyone looking to make their gardens more wildlife-friendly, is to consider pushing back against <a href="http://www.douglasboyes.co.uk/blog/2018/06/09/obsessive-tidiness-disorder-or-how-we-can-learn-to-stop-worrying-and-love-natures-messiness/">obsessive tidiness syndrome</a>. Coined by ecologist Douglas Boyes, the term “obsessive tidiness syndrome” describes humanity’s fixation on keeping things looking “just so” at the expense of leaving space for wildlife. </p>
<p>Designating parts of the garden as “low-tidiness” or “wild” areas can provide wildlife habitats. </p>
<p>Greenwashing appears in many facets of our lives. Fortunately, in the case of wildlife-friendly gardening, the answers are often shared and simple to implement: pick plants that feed wildlife (<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-fight-insectageddon-with-a-garden-of-native-plants-90585">especially native plants</a>), tolerate a little messiness and learn more about the specific needs of the wildlife you wish to shelter and conserve. </p>
<p>Putting these practices into action, and encouraging others to do the same, can help ensure our coexistence with the biodiversity around us.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/203638/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Paul Manning receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. </span></em></p>Instead of focusing their limited time, energy and finances in effective interventions in their gardens, many individual gardeners are falling prey to greenwashing.Paul Manning, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2002662023-02-21T00:40:38Z2023-02-21T00:40:38ZHerding cats: councils’ efforts to protect wildlife from roaming pets are hampered by state laws<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/511100/original/file-20230220-14-b7d6w5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C464%2C2326%2C1519&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Cedric VT/Unsplash</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>How we manage pet cats in our suburbs is <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-16/councils-push-for-stronger-laws-to-keep-pet-cats-inside/101968794">in the spotlight</a>. As the estimated number of pet cats in Australia <a href="https://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/AMAU008-Pet-Ownership22-Report_v1.6_WEB.pdf">passes 5 million</a>, people are increasingly aware of the damage cats do to wildlife. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/wr/pdf/WR19174">One-third of owners</a> already keep their cats securely contained 24 hours a day. This has major <a href="https://www.safecat.org.au/">benefits for cat welfare</a> and prevents cats killing and disturbing wildlife. But that leaves the other 3.5 million or so pet cats free to roam for at least part of the day or night. </p>
<p>In Australia, local government is responsible for regulating our feline pets, but little is known about how this works in practice. We sent a survey to every local council in Australia to understand their approaches to managing pet cats and how these could be improved. We received responses from 240 councils (45%).</p>
<p>Councils across Australia reported managing pet cats is a challenge. But many are adopting regulations that to help protect local wildlife and improve the wellbeing of pet cats. However, state laws, especially in Western Australia and New South Wales, are making it difficult for local councils to manage pet cats well. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A black and white cat walking on a nature strip." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/511103/original/file-20230220-20-sjcfv9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/511103/original/file-20230220-20-sjcfv9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511103/original/file-20230220-20-sjcfv9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511103/original/file-20230220-20-sjcfv9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511103/original/file-20230220-20-sjcfv9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511103/original/file-20230220-20-sjcfv9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511103/original/file-20230220-20-sjcfv9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A pet cat out and about in the Brisbane suburbs.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Image: Jaana Dielenberg</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Cats kill more than their owners realise</h2>
<p>Why the big deal? Many cat owners think their moggy is blameless. “I don’t think my cat goes out that much and I never see any dead animals,” they often say. This is largely untrue. </p>
<p>Research shows the impact of pet cats is much bigger than people realise. Many cats don’t bring home what they kill, or bring back only a very small proportion (<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320713000189">15% on average</a>), so their owners aren’t aware of the majority of the wildlife toll. Radio-tracking studies have shown a <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.4226/78/5892ce70b245a">large proportion</a> of cats are out on adventures when their owners thought they were inside. </p>
<p>On average, <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/wr/WR19174">each roaming, hunting pet cat</a> in Australia kills 40 native reptiles, 38 native birds and 32 native mammals per year. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/one-cat-one-year-110-native-animals-lock-up-your-pet-its-a-killing-machine-138412">One cat, one year, 110 native animals: lock up your pet, it's a killing machine</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/511088/original/file-20230220-18-rrg7c0.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/511088/original/file-20230220-18-rrg7c0.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/511088/original/file-20230220-18-rrg7c0.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=337&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511088/original/file-20230220-18-rrg7c0.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=337&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511088/original/file-20230220-18-rrg7c0.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=337&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511088/original/file-20230220-18-rrg7c0.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=423&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511088/original/file-20230220-18-rrg7c0.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=423&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511088/original/file-20230220-18-rrg7c0.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=423&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A cat on the loose in a Brisbane park. Studies show indoor cats live longer and healthier lives.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Image: Tida Nou</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Our suburbs are now home to around <a href="https://bioone.org/journals/wildlife-research/volume-47/issue-7-8/WR19174/We-need-to-worry-about-Bella-and-Charlie--the/10.1071/WR19174.short">55 cats per square kilometre</a>. That adds up to about 6,000 native animals killed per square kilometre per year in our suburbs alone. The national wildlife death toll from pet cats is well <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/wr/pdf/WR19174">over 300 million native animals </a> per year. </p>
<p>Even when roaming cats don’t kill animals, they have negative impacts on wildlife by <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/wr/wr20089">spreading diseases</a> and because wildlife must spend more time hiding or escaping <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9070445">instead of feeding and caring</a> for young. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/cats-carry-diseases-that-can-be-deadly-to-humans-and-its-costing-australia-6-billion-every-year-147910">Cats carry diseases that can be deadly to humans, and it's costing Australia $6 billion every year</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>As well as hunting wildlife, roaming pet cats can increase feral cat populations if unwanted litters are abandoned.</p>
<p>Seeing wildlife, like blue-tongued lizards and fairywrens, in our gardens and local parks is something we all cherish. How we manage pet cats can either jeopardise our co-existing wildlife or help to safeguard it. So we set out to examine how pet cats are being managed across the country.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A small black, blue and grey bird perched in twigs" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/511104/original/file-20230220-28-n861b5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/511104/original/file-20230220-28-n861b5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511104/original/file-20230220-28-n861b5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511104/original/file-20230220-28-n861b5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511104/original/file-20230220-28-n861b5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511104/original/file-20230220-28-n861b5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511104/original/file-20230220-28-n861b5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">It can be hard for small birds that stay close to the ground, like this fairywren, to persist in areas with roaming cats.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Image: Robyn Cockburn/Unsplash</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/koalas-parrots-frogs-and-orchids-share-our-cities-their-fate-depends-on-protecting-each-ones-habitat-not-just-30-of-all-land-192176">Koalas, parrots, frogs and orchids share our cities. Their fate depends on protecting each one's habitat, not just 30% of all land</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>What are councils doing about it?</h2>
<p>Our <a href="https://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/media/2rxhzg1o/7-4-the-management-of-cats-by-local-governments-in-australia-summary-of-national-survey-results-ff_v2.pdf">survey</a> found almost all local councils require pet cats to be microchipped. Three-quarters require them to be registered. Just over half require desexing and limit the number of cats that can be kept per household. </p>
<p>These approaches are very important to manage pet cats and constrain their numbers and should be extended to all local government areas. However, these measures do not prevent pet cats roaming.</p>
<p>Concern about the impacts of roaming cats has led almost one-third of councils to introduce cat-free areas, cat curfews and containment requirements at all or some places in their local government area. Where adequately policed, these measures appear to be working.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/511087/original/file-20230220-20-re65wn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/511087/original/file-20230220-20-re65wn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/511087/original/file-20230220-20-re65wn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511087/original/file-20230220-20-re65wn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511087/original/file-20230220-20-re65wn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511087/original/file-20230220-20-re65wn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511087/original/file-20230220-20-re65wn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511087/original/file-20230220-20-re65wn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The percentages of local councils that use each of the cat management actions.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Elizabeth Lindsay/Threatened Species Recovery Hub</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>These approaches are most common in city areas of the ACT, Victoria and South Australia, and on some islands. The number of local government areas using this approach has grown markedly over the past five years, partly in response to growing awareness of the impacts of pet cats on wildlife. </p>
<p>For example, Adelaide Hills Council (SA) and Victoria’s Knox City Council brought in 24-hour containment last year. There are plans to do the same on Phillip Island (Victoria) later this year. Bruny Island (Tasmania) and Kangaroo Island (SA) both require cats to be contained. In NSW, Tweed Shire has designated some recently built and future suburbs, which are next to bushland with high conservation value, as cat-free. </p>
<p>Christmas Island has gone further. All pet cats are desexed and the community has agreed not to bring in any more, so their numbers on the island are gradually dwindling. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-our-dogs-and-cats-bring-us-dead-animals-189983">Why do our dogs and cats bring us dead animals?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Some state laws stand in the way of better protection</h2>
<p>Many local councils would also like to adopt containment regulations and no-cat areas as part of strategies to protect local wildlife. However, the overarching laws on domestic animal management are set at the state level. If these laws don’t allow local government to set and then police cat containment bylaws, then the local councils can be hamstrung.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/511096/original/file-20230220-28-d4otua.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/511096/original/file-20230220-28-d4otua.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/511096/original/file-20230220-28-d4otua.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=543&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511096/original/file-20230220-28-d4otua.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=543&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511096/original/file-20230220-28-d4otua.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=543&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511096/original/file-20230220-28-d4otua.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=682&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511096/original/file-20230220-28-d4otua.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=682&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/511096/original/file-20230220-28-d4otua.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=682&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">State and territory laws regarding pets are highly variable and can either help or hinder local councils’ efforts to enact and enforce cat restriction bylaws.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Elizabeth Lindsay/Threatened Species Recovery Hub</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Local councils in WA and NSW complained most often about this situation. They want changes to state laws to make it easier for them to set and police local rules about cat containment or cat prohibition. </p>
<p>In SA, local governments noted inconsistencies in cat containment provisions between councils make implementation and enforcement challenging. A statewide approach using the SA Dog and Cat Management Act would be more effective.</p>
<p>To support fair and effective management of pet cats we recommend all states and territories adopt strong and nationally consistent legislation to enable responsible pet cat management.</p>
<p>This should be supported by enhanced community awareness programs and support for owners and their pets to make the transition to a new, contained lifestyle. Outcomes for local wildlife and for cat welfare and health should also be monitored.</p>
<p>Protecting wildlife and caring for our delightful pets can both be achieved if we rethink <a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/JJHtCr8Dz5sArJ8opu7Nlju?domain=nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au">what it is to be a cat owner</a> and support local government to manage these issues for the whole community.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/200266/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Sarah Legge received funding for cat-related research from the National Environmental Science Program through the Threatened Species Recovery Hub, and is contracted by the Commonwealth Government to help draft a revised feral cat threat abatement plan. She is a member of the Feral Cat Taskforce; a member of the Biodiversity Council; and a member of the Conservation and Science Committee of the Invasive Species Council.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Georgia Garrard receives funding funding from the Australian Research Council, Ian Potter Foundation and the South Australian Government. She has previously received funding for cat-related research from the National Environmental Science Program through the Threatened Species Recovery Hub, and from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. She chairs Birdlife Australia's Research and Conservation Committee and is a member of Zoos Victoria's Scientific Advisory Committee.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jaana Dielenberg is the owner of a happy indoor cat. She works for the Biodiversity Council. She was previously part of research cited in this article which received funding from the Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the Australian Government's National Environmental Science Program (Phase 1). </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>John Woinarski received funding for cat-related research from the National Environmental Science Program through the Threatened Species Recovery Hub, and is contracted by the Commonwealth Government to help draft a revised feral cat threat abatement plan. He is a member of the Feral Cat Taskforce, a Director of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, a member of the Biodiversity Council, and is a member of Zoos Victoria's Scientific Advisory Committee</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Tida Nou received funding for cat-related research from the National Environmental Science Program through the Threatened Species Recovery Hub. She is a member of the National Domestic Cat Management Working Group. </span></em></p>One-third of local councils have rules to stop pet cats roaming because of their major impacts on wildlife. More councils want to get on board but many are hampered by state laws.Sarah Legge, Professor of Wildlife Ecology, Australian National UniversityGeorgia Garrard, Senior Lecturer, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of MelbourneJaana Dielenberg, University Fellow, Charles Darwin UniversityJohn Woinarski, Professor of Conservation Biology, Charles Darwin UniversityTida Nou, Project Officer, School of Earth and Environmental Science, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1899832023-01-10T19:05:08Z2023-01-10T19:05:08ZWhy do our dogs and cats bring us dead animals?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/502073/original/file-20221220-16-rgowlh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C3100%2C2108&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/o8CA1Kj8TJU">Samantha Fortney/Unsplash</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>What do a little penguin, a baby rabbit, a black rat and a <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-rare-discovery-we-found-the-sugar-glider-is-actually-three-species-but-one-is-disappearing-fast-142807">Krefft’s glider</a> have in common? They’ve all been presented to me (when dead) by my animal companions. Chances are, if you live with a cat or dog, you’ve also been brought something similar. </p>
<p>So, is it a gift, are they showing off, or is something else going on? </p>
<h2>Is it meant for you?</h2>
<p>The first thing to consider is whether your canine or feline companion is actually bringing <em>you</em> the dead animal, or are you just in the space they have also come to? </p>
<p>As people, we tend to like putting ourselves into the middle of every story (the fancy term to describe this mindset is anthropocentric). But sometimes it’s not about us. Maybe your dog was planning to munch away at that half-rotten critter on their comfortable bed in a known safe place, which coincidentally is near where you are.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/genetic-research-confirms-your-dogs-breed-influences-its-personality-but-so-do-you-196274">Genetic research confirms your dog's breed influences its personality — but so do you</a>
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</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Perhaps your cat has entered the room, truly parading the find in their mouth to you. This might include them loudly exclaiming they hit their version of the jackpot with a direct approach: walking towards you, holding eye contact with you and making a distinctive cry (most cat meows are <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7765146/">designed to get your attention</a>). </p>
<p>If this is the case, then yes, they probably are intentionally sharing this dead animal with you. But <em>why</em>? </p>
<h2>Understanding animal motivations</h2>
<p><strong>Did they kill this animal themselves?</strong></p>
<p>Globally, we know <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0151962">people value wildlife</a> in both urban and rural areas. Yet our companion cats and dogs <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-must-control-its-killer-cat-problem-a-major-new-report-explains-how-but-doesnt-go-far-enough-154931">kill huge numbers of wild animals</a>. In Australia, cats in particular have attracted <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/wr/WR19174">attention and management policies</a> to <a href="https://theconversation.com/one-cat-one-year-110-native-animals-lock-up-your-pet-its-a-killing-machine-138412">reduce their impact on local wildlife</a>. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Cat peering out of from the side of a window" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/502264/original/file-20221220-25-slbol7.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/502264/original/file-20221220-25-slbol7.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=508&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/502264/original/file-20221220-25-slbol7.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=508&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/502264/original/file-20221220-25-slbol7.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=508&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/502264/original/file-20221220-25-slbol7.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=638&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/502264/original/file-20221220-25-slbol7.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=638&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/502264/original/file-20221220-25-slbol7.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=638&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">They can be very cute, but cats are also highly effective killers of native wildlife.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Fatih Turan/Pexels</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-must-control-its-killer-cat-problem-a-major-new-report-explains-how-but-doesnt-go-far-enough-154931">Australia must control its killer cat problem. A major new report explains how, but doesn't go far enough</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p><strong>Are they bringing you something that was already dead?</strong></p>
<p>In some situations, our animals may just be opportunistic and have found something that was already dead. Perhaps it was dropped in a paddock by an owl, or washed up on the beach, or hit by a vehicle and found on the side of a road. What are we to make of these offerings?</p>
<p>In 2015, Queensland biologists described a number of individual wild bottlenose dolphins apparently “gift-giving” wild-caught fish (usually already dead) or cephalopods (such as squid and octopus) to the people who fed them fish as part of a regulated feeding program at Tangalooma in Australia. </p>
<p>The researchers thought the gifting was consistent with play, prey-sharing and teaching behaviours observed in dolphins, whales and many other mammals historically considered as big thinkers.</p>
<p>Ultimately, with these dolphins, and with our own animal companions, we can think of this sharing as an expression of the particular relationship between the animal and the human. In some cases, where the behaviour is regular (even if infrequent), we can describe it as part of the animals’ culture, as the dolphin biologists did <a href="https://doi.org/10.2752/175303712X13479798785698">in their scientific paper</a>. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/whales-and-dolphins-have-rich-cultures-and-could-hold-clues-to-what-makes-humans-so-advanced-85858">Whales and dolphins have rich cultures – and could hold clues to what makes humans so advanced</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="dolphins being fed by people in shallow water at the beach" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/502259/original/file-20221220-18-tq0w6h.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/502259/original/file-20221220-18-tq0w6h.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/502259/original/file-20221220-18-tq0w6h.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/502259/original/file-20221220-18-tq0w6h.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/502259/original/file-20221220-18-tq0w6h.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/502259/original/file-20221220-18-tq0w6h.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/502259/original/file-20221220-18-tq0w6h.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Dolphins used to being fed by people at Tangalooma, Queensland, have been known to present fish in return.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dolphin_Feeding_at_Tangalooma_Resort,_Moreton_Island.jpg">S. Newrick/Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>What should you do?</h2>
<p>If you ever find yourself in the position where your animal companions bring you a dead animal, there are a couple of things to remember.</p>
<ol>
<li><p><strong>Regular parasite control</strong> will ensure you don’t all share more than intended. Mites responsible for mange, lice and worms can all spread readily between dead wildlife, animal companions and people. Talk to your veterinarian if you’re unsure about what parasite control your four-legged friend should routinely have.</p></li>
<li><p><strong>Stopping cats and dogs from preying on wildlife</strong> is a really important part of looking out for everyone’s wellbeing. If you know your animal companion is killing wild animals, you should take action to prevent it. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Effective measures might include safely limiting when and where they go outdoors, a bell on their collar, keeping them on a lead when outside, and redirecting their energy <a href="https://theconversation.com/are-you-walking-your-dog-enough-100530">through regular walks</a>, play and fun <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-you-should-train-your-cat-and-how-to-do-it-188307">training activities</a>. Keeping cats inside the home can also <a href="https://theconversation.com/cats-that-are-allowed-to-roam-can-spread-diseases-to-humans-and-wildlife-173613">limit the spread of diseases</a> to humans and other animals.</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/cats-that-are-allowed-to-roam-can-spread-diseases-to-humans-and-wildlife-173613">Cats that are allowed to roam can spread diseases to humans and wildlife</a>
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</p>
<hr>
<p>So, when your cat or dog presents you with a dead animal, it is normal behaviour and can indicate their attachment to you. It’s also a reminder, though, of how much damage they can do to wildlife and of our responsibility to limit that harm.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/189983/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Mia Cobb does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Are our animal companions showing off when they share more than toys with us? And what should we do about it?Mia Cobb, Research Fellow, Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of MelbourneLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1930262022-11-14T00:35:22Z2022-11-14T00:35:22ZThey’re doing their best: how these 3 neighbourhood ‘pests’ deal with rainy days<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/493996/original/file-20221108-18-x9ma6s.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C8%2C2700%2C1786&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Have you had a recent encounter with an animal you’d much rather avoid? As La Niña continues to give us rainy days, brush turkeys, bats, and cockroaches are emerging from their hide-outs. </p>
<p>We often think of them as pests, but these animals are just trying their best to cope in the heavy rain. They’re also crucial members of our urban ecosystems, and help keep the environment healthy. </p>
<p>Here’s what makes them so fascinating and important to your neighbourhood. </p>
<h2>Bats: heavy rain hinders echolocation</h2>
<p>Australia is home to multiple threatened species of <a href="https://theconversation.com/australias-threatened-bats-need-protection-from-a-silent-killer-white-nose-syndrome-129186">fruit bats and microbats</a>, such as grey-headed flying foxes, large bent-wing bats, and spectacled flying foxes. </p>
<p>They’re typically considered nuisances for their noise, mess and potential spread of diseases. But bats are often forgotten for their ability to control insect pests, disperse seeds, and pollinate plants.</p>
<p>Bats face some serious threats in La Niña conditions. They can respond to periods of heavy rain by using a special physiological adaptation called torpor. In torpor, bats will sleep more and lower their body temperature so they can use less energy.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/492061/original/file-20221027-20344-y8o5dv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/492061/original/file-20221027-20344-y8o5dv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492061/original/file-20221027-20344-y8o5dv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492061/original/file-20221027-20344-y8o5dv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492061/original/file-20221027-20344-y8o5dv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492061/original/file-20221027-20344-y8o5dv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492061/original/file-20221027-20344-y8o5dv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Microbat sp. giving a smile (this bat was handled by a gloved, trained professional. Never pick up a bat yourself)</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source"> Image Credit Dieter Hochuli</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a href="https://www.ausbats.org.au/uploads/4/4/9/0/44908845/meet_sydneys_microbats.pdf">Microbats</a> are abundant throughout Australian cities. They use <a href="https://theconversation.com/fruit-bats-are-the-only-bats-that-cant-and-never-could-use-echolocation-now-were-closer-to-knowing-why-153721">echolocation to see</a>, but heavy rain likely <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190206115623.htm">reduces</a> this ability. </p>
<p>In 2019, Smithsonian researchers played recordings of downpours near bat roosts, and found the bats delayed emerging from their roosts. Delayed emergence can lead to disorientated bats with a reduced capacity to find food. </p>
<p>In Australia, rain may affect microbats more than fruit bats because of where they live. Many species of microbats, such as the <a href="https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=10534">large bent-winged bat</a>, live in culverts and under bridges, where higher water levels can rush through during heavy rain periods.</p>
<p>Fruit bats, such as flying foxes, <a href="https://theconversation.com/fruit-bats-are-the-only-bats-that-cant-and-never-could-use-echolocation-now-were-closer-to-knowing-why-153721">don’t use echolocation</a>, but rain can wet their fur and lower their body temperature. So they’ll often stay put in their roosts to keep warm during heavy rain.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/fruit-bats-are-the-only-bats-that-cant-and-never-could-use-echolocation-now-were-closer-to-knowing-why-153721">Fruit bats are the only bats that can't (and never could) use echolocation. Now we're closer to knowing why</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>It also <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2011.0313">costs a lot more energy</a> for a bat to fly in the rain, making it harder to maintain a steady intake of food. If there is consecutive days of rain, bats may fall from their home due to starvation. </p>
<p>If you find a fallen bat, do not touch it. Instead, contact <a href="https://www.wires.org.au/wildlife-information/flying-foxes-and-microbats">WIRES</a>. Or, wait to see if they leave once the rain clears up.</p>
<h2>Brush turkeys: reshape their mounds</h2>
<p>Brush turkeys are a type of ground nesting bird found along Australia’s east coast, from Cape York in Queensland down to Wollongong in NSW. They’re particularly vulnerable to the effects of heavy rain, which can damage or wash out their nests. </p>
<p>To incubate their eggs, brush-turkeys build enormous mounds of leaf litter and mulch. These mounds can weigh several tonnes, and can be as wide as <a href="https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/animals/living-with/brush-turkeys">4 metres across and up to 1 metre high</a>. These mounds often cause <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-31/brush-turkeys-haunting-sydney-backyards/7287518">consternation among avid gardeners</a> and frustrated suburbanites.</p>
<p>But brush-turkeys can benefit the environment. As they <a href="https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/australian-brush-turkey">scratch for food and build mounds</a>, the birds help break down leaf litter and aerate the soil. This helps water and nutrients move throughout your soil, which ultimately helps your garden.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/492062/original/file-20221027-12-3pyzmd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/492062/original/file-20221027-12-3pyzmd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492062/original/file-20221027-12-3pyzmd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492062/original/file-20221027-12-3pyzmd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492062/original/file-20221027-12-3pyzmd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492062/original/file-20221027-12-3pyzmd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492062/original/file-20221027-12-3pyzmd.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Brush-turkey on a mound.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Image Credit Matthew Hall</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Winter rainfall is the trigger for males to start building their mounds, as the increased soil moisture provides the heat that incubates their eggs. However, research shows males <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1071/MU9880210">avoid constructing their nests</a> during long periods of heavy rain.</p>
<p>Flood waters can sweep away existing mounds and, after multiple weeks of rain, mounds can become waterlogged. Floods can drown eggs or reduce mound temperatures below the levels necessary for incubation, preventing the chicks from developing properly. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/492065/original/file-20221027-25221-sv6gb2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/492065/original/file-20221027-25221-sv6gb2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=484&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492065/original/file-20221027-25221-sv6gb2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=484&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492065/original/file-20221027-25221-sv6gb2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=484&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492065/original/file-20221027-25221-sv6gb2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=608&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492065/original/file-20221027-25221-sv6gb2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=608&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492065/original/file-20221027-25221-sv6gb2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=608&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A brush-turkey chick.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Image Credit John Martin</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Brush-turkeys are known to protect their mounds from heavy rain. Much anecdotal evidence suggests brush-turkeys can predict the weather in advance, and <a href="http://www.climatekelpie.com.au/index.php/1999/08/01/the-brush-turkeys-are-never-wrong/">reshape their mound accordingly</a>. </p>
<p>During light rain, male brush-turkeys <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/11/23/3374445.htm">open up their mound</a>, letting much-needed moisture soak in to speed up decomposition of the leaf litter. But as strong rainfall approaches, they instead <a href="https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4385974">pile extra material on top of their mound</a>, providing an extra layer of protection and creating a more conical shape so water can run off the sides. </p>
<p>Next time, consider tuning into your local brush turkeys for a weather forecast. If you see them doing a bit of extra raking in your garden on dismal grey days, it might be a scramble to protect their nests from approaching heavy rain. </p>
<p>When you spot one, use the opportunity to snap a photo and upload it to the <a href="https://taronga.org.au/conservation-and-science/current-research/big-city-birds">Big City Birds app</a>. This app tracks where birds such as brush-turkeys occur, and how they’re adapting to city life.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/sad-and-distressing-massive-numbers-of-bird-deaths-in-australian-heatwaves-reveal-a-profound-loss-is-looming-190685">‘Sad and distressing’: massive numbers of bird deaths in Australian heatwaves reveal a profound loss is looming</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Native cockroaches: evacuate to drier areas</h2>
<p>As we settle into another wet spring, our homes are becoming perfect breeding grounds for cockroaches. The humidity of a moist house combined with warmer weather, allows for cockroaches to grow quicker and thrive. </p>
<p>Only a small handful of cockroach species will survive in the average house, and they are all introduced species. After rain, it’s vital to make your house a little less cockroach friendly. Reduce humidity by keeping the house well ventilated, and make sure to remove any food scraps.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the waterlogged soil in your local green spaces are likely home to some of <a href="https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/cockroaches-order-blattodea/">Australia’s 450 native species of cockroaches</a>, so you might see some around your backyard after rain. Cockroaches play important roles in the ecosystem, breaking down nutrients in the soil.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/494376/original/file-20221109-22-y2eyjf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/494376/original/file-20221109-22-y2eyjf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=643&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494376/original/file-20221109-22-y2eyjf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=643&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494376/original/file-20221109-22-y2eyjf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=643&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494376/original/file-20221109-22-y2eyjf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=808&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494376/original/file-20221109-22-y2eyjf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=808&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/494376/original/file-20221109-22-y2eyjf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=808&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Native Australian <em>Ellipsidion sp.</em> cockroach.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Image Credit Elise Oakman</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Burrowing cockroaches can be spotted because they don’t have wings. Many of our other native cockroaches are obvious due to their <a href="https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2018/04/our-native-cockroaches-arent-as-gross-as-you-think/">beautiful colours and patterns</a>.</p>
<p>One amazing example is the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2022/10/01/extinct-wood-eating-cockroach-rediscovered-after-80-years.html">Lord Howe Island wood-feeding cockroach</a>. Thought to be extinct for some 80 years due to rats, they have only recently been rediscovered. This species is important, because it recycles nutrients and is food for other animals.</p>
<p>While native cockroaches may enter your home in an attempt to find warm dry ground, they won’t thrive indoors. If you find a native cockroach inside your house, instead of reaching for the bug spray, it’s best to catch them and put them back outside. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/a-large-cockroach-thought-extinct-since-the-1930s-was-just-rediscovered-on-a-small-island-in-australia-191847">A large cockroach thought extinct since the 1930s was just rediscovered on a small island in Australia</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>So during wet weather, take the time to remember that these animals are trying their best. All have amazing ways of adapting to heavy rain, and we should cut them some slack – the environment, including our backyards, need them.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/193026/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Elise Oakman receives funding from the Ecological Society of Australia, the Department of Planning and Environment, and the Australian Wildlife Society.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Caitlyn Forster receives funding from the Australian Research Council. She is affiliated with the Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour and Invertebrates Australia. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Matthew Hall has previously received research funding from The Australian Citizen Science Association and Birding NSW. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Mei-Ting Kao does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Brush turkeys, bats, and cockroaches are crucial for the environment – including our gardens. Each have fascinating ways of coping in wet weather.Elise Oakman, PhD Candidate, University of SydneyCaitlyn Forster, PhD Candidate, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of SydneyMatthew Hall, Casual Academic, University of SydneyMei-Ting Kao, PhD student, University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1921762022-11-06T19:04:13Z2022-11-06T19:04:13ZKoalas, parrots, frogs and orchids share our cities. Their fate depends on protecting each one’s habitat, not just 30% of all land<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/493404/original/file-20221103-20-f19crx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=110%2C671%2C3696%2C2582&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>The global <a href="https://www.hacfornatureandpeople.org/homeet">30x30</a> target aims to protect 30% of the planet by 2030 to secure its biodiversity. This involves legal protection for land and sea areas designated as national parks and nature reserves. Australia has <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-04/federal-government-pledges-30-percent-land-for-conservation/101498000">joined</a> more than <a href="https://www.hacfornatureandpeople.org/home">100 countries</a> in this bold initiative. </p>
<p>However, if we are to adequately protect all species, we must acknowledge we never start with a blank slate. As a major academic <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227638151_Saunders_D_Hobbs_R_Margules_C_Biological_Consequences_of_Ecosystem_Fragmentation_A_Review_Conservation_Biology">review</a> of fragmented ecosystems observed:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“Conservation managers must work with the remnants and virtually never have the opportunity to design a reserve network before an area is fragmented.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The areas we choose to protect must include ecosystems where biodiversity is under pressure from human land uses. Australia’s urban areas still have a surprisingly high level of biodiversity. </p>
<p>Our <a href="https://threatenedspeciesincities.org/">major cities are home</a> to <a href="https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/the-threatened-species-in-our-urban-jungle">almost 380 threatened species</a>. They range from the western ringtail possum, koala and grey-headed flying fox to the orange-bellied parrot, red-crowned toadlet and several orchids. Indeed, <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-39-endangered-species-in-melbourne-sydney-adelaide-and-other-australian-cities-114741">39 endangered species</a> are found only in our cities and towns. </p>
<p>These urban areas also include <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publiclookupcommunities.pl">threatened ecological communities</a> such as the banksia woodlands of the Swan coastal plain in Perth and blue gum high forest of the Sydney region. </p>
<p>So, what does the 30x30 target mean for our cities and how we protect their biodiversity?</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Small toad with red markets on the head, legs and rump" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/493407/original/file-20221103-12-yt7zcf.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/493407/original/file-20221103-12-yt7zcf.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493407/original/file-20221103-12-yt7zcf.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493407/original/file-20221103-12-yt7zcf.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493407/original/file-20221103-12-yt7zcf.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493407/original/file-20221103-12-yt7zcf.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493407/original/file-20221103-12-yt7zcf.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The distinctive red-crowned toadlet is found only in the Sydney Basin bioregion.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pseudophryne_australis_2.jpg">Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-39-endangered-species-in-melbourne-sydney-adelaide-and-other-australian-cities-114741">The 39 endangered species in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and other Australian cities</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Many areas are poorly protected</h2>
<p>To protect biodiversity it’s <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/526195e">not enough</a> to simply protect 30% of land in general. Australia’s <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs">National Reserve System</a> prescribes a comprehensive, adequate and representative approach. This divides the country into <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/ibra">89 distinct bioregions and 419 subregions</a>. </p>
<p>The latest <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2020">data</a> suggest that simply achieving 30% protection for all these areas will be difficult. </p>
<p>As the maps below show (dark green areas have 30% or more protection), Australia meets this target in only 29 of its 89 bioregions, and 96 of 421 subregions. Is this is an improvement from a <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/18626033.2013.798930">decade ago</a> when a modest target of 10% protected area had been achieved in only 57 of 89 ecoregions? </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/493394/original/file-20221103-26-gmsj7v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Map of Australia showing level of protection of bioregions" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/493394/original/file-20221103-26-gmsj7v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/493394/original/file-20221103-26-gmsj7v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493394/original/file-20221103-26-gmsj7v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493394/original/file-20221103-26-gmsj7v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493394/original/file-20221103-26-gmsj7v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=534&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493394/original/file-20221103-26-gmsj7v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=534&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493394/original/file-20221103-26-gmsj7v.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=534&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/env/pages/5b3d2d31-2355-4b60-820c-e370572b2520/files/ibra-regions-protection-2020.pdf">Source: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/493396/original/file-20221103-26-eqww54.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Map of Australia showing level of protection of subregions" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/493396/original/file-20221103-26-eqww54.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/493396/original/file-20221103-26-eqww54.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493396/original/file-20221103-26-eqww54.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493396/original/file-20221103-26-eqww54.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493396/original/file-20221103-26-eqww54.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=534&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493396/original/file-20221103-26-eqww54.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=534&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493396/original/file-20221103-26-eqww54.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=534&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Source: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Even the 30% target may not be <a href="https://eowilsonfoundation.org/e-o-wilson-on-saving-half-the-earth/">adequate</a>. And yet achieving it will be difficult in the face of worldwide challenges such as climate change, invasive species and the issues of <a href="https://theconversation.com/protecting-30-of-australias-land-and-sea-by-2030-sounds-great-but-its-not-what-it-seems-187435">resourcing and managing</a> an ever-expanding network. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/protecting-30-of-australias-land-and-sea-by-2030-sounds-great-but-its-not-what-it-seems-187435">Protecting 30% of Australia's land and sea by 2030 sounds great – but it's not what it seems</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>How do we protect urban biodiversity?</h2>
<p>Adequately protecting biodiversity in the cities and towns where most Australians live will be especially difficult. </p>
<p>For example, a cursory look at <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/land/nrs/science/capad/2020">protected area data</a> for Sydney, situated across one bioregion, Sydney Basin, suggests good progress, with 40.99% of its area protected. </p>
<p>However, at the level of its subregions, the picture is different. Pittwater (31.62%), Yengo (58.55%) and Woollemi (71.81%) have high levels of protection. But look at how little land is protected in the subregions that sit entirely within Sydney proper – only 3.13% for Cumberland.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/493448/original/file-20221104-11-i9d8nn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/493448/original/file-20221104-11-i9d8nn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=848&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493448/original/file-20221104-11-i9d8nn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=848&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493448/original/file-20221104-11-i9d8nn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=848&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493448/original/file-20221104-11-i9d8nn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1066&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493448/original/file-20221104-11-i9d8nn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1066&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/493448/original/file-20221104-11-i9d8nn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1066&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The most urbanised subregions of the Sydney Basin bioregion have minimal protected areas.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Map by Simon Kilbane using Commonwealth data</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The picture is similar across all of Australia’s urban areas. To achieve comprehensive, adequate and representative protection of our biodiversity, we are going to have to think differently. How can we better plan our urban landscapes, or perhaps retrofit these areas, to provide habitat for our imperilled species? </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/labors-plan-to-save-threatened-species-is-an-improvement-but-its-still-well-short-of-what-we-need-191845">Labor's plan to save threatened species is an improvement – but it's still well short of what we need</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>5 approaches to protecting biodiversity</h2>
<p>Here are five approaches drawn from practice around Australia and the world that could help. </p>
<p><strong>1. A philosophical reframing</strong></p>
<p>Biodiversity protection should not just occur in remote regions. It’s an issue closer to home. Urban and commercial development directly threatens 56 of Australia’s 255 flora and fauna species on the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?landRegions=AU&searchType=species">IUCN Red List of Threatened Species</a>. </p>
<p><strong>2. Green infrastructure</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/18626033.2013.798930">Green infrastructure</a> can create a network of urban forest, foreshores and creek lines, parks and open spaces. In this way, we can reconnect fragmented habitat patches. This interconnected network has both <a href="http://www.sprawlwatch.org/greeninfrastructure.pdf">ecological and human-related benefits</a>. </p>
<p>Bolstered by a healthy groundswell of public and policy support – who wouldn’t want more green space? – there’s a growing momentum to reshape our cities. Notable initiatives include the Perth Biodiversity Project, the <a href="https://www.governmentarchitect.nsw.gov.au/projects/sydney-green-grid">Sydney Green Grid</a> and Melbourne’s Urban Forest Strategy. </p>
<p>The benefits for ecosystems come from water retention and flood management and increasing plant cover – so important for reducing <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2014.05.002">urban heat island impacts</a>. People’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/biodiversity-and-our-brains-how-ecology-and-mental-health-go-together-in-our-cities-126760">mental health and wellbeing benefit</a> from spending time in these green areas. Evidence even suggests greener streets and suburbs have <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016920461200299X?via%3Dihub">higher real estate values</a>.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/heres-how-to-design-cities-where-people-and-nature-can-both-flourish-102849">Here's how to design cities where people and nature can both flourish</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1214164273859039232"}"></div></p>
<p><strong>3. Creative conservation choices</strong></p>
<p>Finding conservation candidates in urban areas requires imagination and creativity. Why not consider disused industrial lands, cemeteries, poorly frequented <a href="https://theconversation.com/urban-golf-courses-are-biodiversity-oases-opening-them-up-puts-that-at-risk-148634">golf courses</a>, our roof tops and the ubiquitous suburban <a href="https://theconversation.com/our-land-abounds-in-nature-strips-surely-we-can-do-more-than-mow-a-third-of-urban-green-space-124781">nature strips</a>?</p>
<p>If we radically reconfigured or “<a href="https://landscapeaustralia.com/articles/making-space-for-wildness-in-australian-cities/">rewilded</a>” our streets and gardens we could create more urban habitat. More diverse and local plantings and “<a href="https://www.backyards4wildlife.com.au/">backyards for wildlife</a>”-type schemes seem a safe bet.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/yes-the-state-of-the-environment-is-grim-but-you-can-make-a-difference-right-in-your-own-neighbourhoood-187259">Yes, the state of the environment is grim, but you can make a difference, right in your own neighbourhoood</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p><strong>4. Rethinking our idea of urban development</strong></p>
<p>The above options are the lowest-hanging fruit. What would happen if we radically rethought our profit-driven development model of suburbanisation? We could create a better balance between the habitats of humans and all the other species we share our cities with – as a matter of <a href="https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2020/10/06/what-is-ecological-justice-and-why-does-it-matter-today/">ecological justice</a>. </p>
<p>We might need to use collaborative tools and scenario planning to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016920461730097X?via%3Dihub">visualise possible impacts and benefits</a>. This will help us better combine thinking about people, place and ecology. </p>
<p><strong>5. Fostering ecological literacy</strong></p>
<p>Starting with learning from how Australia’s lands have been managed through <a href="https://ecologicalprocesses.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/2192-1709-2-7">traditional ecological knowledge</a>, we need to foster a deeper appreciation of the nature that exists under our noses. Incorporating ecological knowledge into education from as early as possible will build <a href="https://doi.org/10.1890/ES13-00075.1">ecological literacy</a> </p>
<p>This might then temper our desire for exotic plantings. We might even have
second thoughts about cat or dog ownership given their impacts: Australia’s 3.8 million pet cats <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-must-control-its-killer-cat-problem-a-major-new-report-explains-how-but-doesnt-go-far-enough-154931">kill up to 390 million animals</a> every year. </p>
<p>It will take a monumental effort to rethink our country and our cities to preserve their biodiversity. Australia has just begun a worthwhile but difficult journey.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/192176/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Simon Kilbane is a member of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and the Government Architect of New South Wale's NSW State Design Review Panel
</span></em></p>Australia now has a target of protecting 30% of its land and sea area. But the challenges of conserving urban biodiversity illustrate why it’s a much more complex task than a simple target suggests.Simon Kilbane, Senior Lecturer, Landscape Architecture, Deakin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1888072022-09-19T20:15:20Z2022-09-19T20:15:20ZClimate change threatens up to 100% of trees in Australian cities, and most urban species worldwide<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483411/original/file-20220908-21-5qto3i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=6%2C84%2C2006%2C1324&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Photo: Jaana Dielenberg</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>To anyone who has stepped off a hot pavement into a shady park, it will come as little surprise that trees (and shrubs) have a <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-solution-to-cut-extreme-heat-by-up-to-6-degrees-is-in-our-own-backyards-133082">big cooling effect</a> on cities. </p>
<p>Our study published today in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-022-01465-8">Nature Climate Change</a> found climate change will put 90-100% of the trees and shrubs planted in Australian capital cities at risk by 2050. Without action, two-thirds of trees and shrubs in cities worldwide will be at potential risk from climate change. </p>
<p>Increasing city temperatures mean their trees are becoming more important than ever. More than just shade umbrellas, the natural air-conditioning magic of trees happens as water moves up from the soil through their roots and evaporates out of their leaves into the air.</p>
<p>But how will the trees themselves cope with climate change as conditions shift beyond their natural tolerance limits for high temperatures or lack of water? Our team of scientists from Australia and France examined the impacts of temperature and rainfall changes projected for coming decades on 3,129 tree and shrub species planted in 164 cities across 78 countries. </p>
<p>About half of these urban tree and shrub species are already experiencing climate conditions beyond their natural tolerance limits. </p>
<p>These findings sound bleak – but read on. We have also identified steps people can take to help their local trees survive, thrive and keep on cooling. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/a-solution-to-cut-extreme-heat-by-up-to-6-degrees-is-in-our-own-backyards-133082">A solution to cut extreme heat by up to 6 degrees is in our own backyards</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483947/original/file-20220912-26-so06fl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="people walking through a tree-lined public space in Barcelona" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483947/original/file-20220912-26-so06fl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483947/original/file-20220912-26-so06fl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483947/original/file-20220912-26-so06fl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483947/original/file-20220912-26-so06fl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483947/original/file-20220912-26-so06fl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483947/original/file-20220912-26-so06fl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483947/original/file-20220912-26-so06fl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Imagine this public space in Barcelona without trees – it would be unbearably hot in the Spanish summer.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Photo: Jorge Fernández Salas/Unsplash</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Risks in Australia are higher</h2>
<p>In Australia, reduced rainfall will be the most common stress on urban trees, but increasing temperatures will also be a major factor, especially in Darwin.</p>
<p>By 2050, the proportion of urban tree species that might be at risk of projected temperature increases in Australian cities is very high. Among the major cities with inventories of urban plantings, those with high percentages at risk include: Cairns 82%, Melbourne 93%, Perth 95%, Hobart 95%, Sydney 96%, Canberra 98% and Darwin 100%.</p>
<p>Common native species, including manna gum, swamp gum, yellow box, narrow-leaved peppermint, blackwood and brush box, and well-loved introduced species, such as jacaranda, oaks, elms, poplars and silver birch, are among the trees that could be at risk in Australia.</p>
<p>By at risk, we mean these species might be experiencing stressful climatic conditions that could affect their health and performance. However, we could buffer the risk for these species by providing water or creating other microclimate conditions. Also, urban trees may exhibit plasticity in traits that govern survival, growth and environmental tolerance, which can help them to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1618866720305884?casa_token=jrNUEMp2MJwAAAAA:HUpUQvJyWVho0zAE7IZCrHroBOtPtXl9cdMMhIbKqN6iu3SOUk9gGZ8eJu9HNNbGTIp53wA4BE3x">adapt to local environmental conditions</a>.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483446/original/file-20220908-14-ctxok4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A green house surrounded by trees and shrubs" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483446/original/file-20220908-14-ctxok4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483446/original/file-20220908-14-ctxok4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483446/original/file-20220908-14-ctxok4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483446/original/file-20220908-14-ctxok4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483446/original/file-20220908-14-ctxok4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483446/original/file-20220908-14-ctxok4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483446/original/file-20220908-14-ctxok4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Houses surrounded by trees and shrubs stay cooler in warm weather.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Photo: Jaana Dielenberg</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/our-cities-need-more-trees-but-some-commonly-planted-ones-wont-survive-climate-change-120493">Our cities need more trees, but some commonly planted ones won't survive climate change</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>More than 1,000 tree species at risk globally</h2>
<p>Worldwide, we found common species of cherry plums, oaks, maples, poplars, elms, pines, lindens, wattles, eucalypts and chestnuts are among more than 1,000 species that have been flagged at risk due to climate change in most cities where they occur.</p>
<p>Even more worryingly, the number of species affected, and the scale of the impacts, will increase markedly by 2050 as temperatures increase. These trends jeopardise the health and longevity of urban forests and the benefits they provide to society.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483413/original/file-20220908-9329-hg03kz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A shady street through a cemetery" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483413/original/file-20220908-9329-hg03kz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483413/original/file-20220908-9329-hg03kz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483413/original/file-20220908-9329-hg03kz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483413/original/file-20220908-9329-hg03kz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483413/original/file-20220908-9329-hg03kz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483413/original/file-20220908-9329-hg03kz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483413/original/file-20220908-9329-hg03kz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Urban forests like these horse chesnut trees in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris are valuable for cooling cities and making them more liveable.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Photo: Akvile Jureviciute-Lenoir</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The United Nations predicts the world’s population will grow to around <a href="https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/content/World-Population-Prospects-2022">8.5 billion by 2030</a>, with more than half of those people living in cities. Climate change will further heat up the <a href="https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/urban-heat-island">urban heat islands</a> created by millions of people, vehicles and industries generating heat that’s retained among buildings and other infrastructure. </p>
<p>Urban trees have a vital role to play in keeping cities liveable. As they cool their surroundings, they reduce our electricity use for air conditioning, while also <a href="https://onetreeplanted.org/blogs/stories/how-much-co2-does-tree-absorb">absorbing carbon dioxide</a>, <a href="https://edu.rsc.org/feature/how-do-trees-clean-our-air/4010864.article#:%7E:text=As%20well%20as%20improving%20our,benefits%20both%20locally%20and%20globally.">purifying the air</a>, <a href="https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/can-trees-reduce-noise-pollution.php">reducing city noise</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/yes-the-state-of-the-environment-is-grim-but-you-can-make-a-difference-right-in-your-own-neighbourhoood-187259">providing wildlife habitat</a>. They are also inherently beautiful, living things that underpin much of the biodiversity on Earth. </p>
<p>Being around their natural greenness also <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/5/2227">improves our mental health and well-being</a>. Trees have helped us through stressful times such as <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2021.672909/full">pandemics</a>.</p>
<p>However, when <a href="https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ppp3.10240">climatic conditions</a> exceed the natural tolerance of trees, not only can this lead to poor tree health and limited growth, but it can also reduce their cooling effect and eventually lead to tree dieback. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969722050148">During drought or heat stress</a>, trees can stop releasing water vapour from their leaves or shed leaves to reduce tissue damage. This means that at a time when we most need their natural air conditioning, they are more likely to be switching off.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/cities-could-get-more-than-4-c-hotter-by-2100-to-keep-cool-in-australia-we-urgently-need-a-national-planning-policy-152680">Cities could get more than 4°C hotter by 2100. To keep cool in Australia, we urgently need a national planning policy</a>
</strong>
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<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483412/original/file-20220908-23-fi4dcf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483412/original/file-20220908-23-fi4dcf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483412/original/file-20220908-23-fi4dcf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483412/original/file-20220908-23-fi4dcf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483412/original/file-20220908-23-fi4dcf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483412/original/file-20220908-23-fi4dcf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483412/original/file-20220908-23-fi4dcf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483412/original/file-20220908-23-fi4dcf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">People enjoying trees in Copenhagen, Denmark.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Photo: Rachael Gallagher</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>What can we do to protect our trees?</h2>
<p>Increasing the number of trees and shrubs in our cities, collectively called urban forests, is a key climate change adaptation and liveability strategy being used around the world. Until now, though, <a href="https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ppp3.10240">little information was available</a> on whether or not current climatic conditions exceed what urban forests can stand, or how these conditions compare with projected changes in temperature and precipitation (drought, rain and snow) around the world.</p>
<p>Our study provides guidance to urban forest managers in 164 cities about which species might be at risk and should be monitored. It also identifies which species are likely to be resilient to climate change and so suitable for future plantings.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rX-0szAK9Bg?wmode=transparent&start=81" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">The authors explain their findings and what they mean for trees and shrubs planted in our cities.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>People can help urban forests to survive and keep providing their many benefits in a few simple ways:</p>
<p>1) reduced rainfall and soil moisture are a big threat to many species, so you can help rain soak into the ground to ensure precious water is not wasted down the drain – consider diverting water from your downpipe to a <a href="https://www.melbournewater.com.au/building-and-works/stormwater-management/options-treating-stormwater/raingardens">raingarden</a> or a <a href="https://www.melbournewater.com.au/building-and-works/stormwater-management/options-treating-stormwater/rainwater-tanks">rainwater tank</a> that trickle-feeds the garden (this also <a href="https://www.melbournewater.com.au/building-and-works/stormwater-management/introduction-wsud">helps your local creek</a>). </p>
<p>2) plant even more trees and shrubs, which helps to keep city temperatures comfortable for them and us – get advice from your local council or horticulturalists about suitable climate-resilient species for your area.</p>
<p>3) leave trees and shrubs in place – think twice before cutting down trees and shrubs, as they are providing you with more benefits than you realise.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483415/original/file-20220908-13-b0vrgc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A scientist inspecting a young urban tree" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483415/original/file-20220908-13-b0vrgc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483415/original/file-20220908-13-b0vrgc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483415/original/file-20220908-13-b0vrgc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483415/original/file-20220908-13-b0vrgc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483415/original/file-20220908-13-b0vrgc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483415/original/file-20220908-13-b0vrgc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483415/original/file-20220908-13-b0vrgc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Author Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez checks on a young tree – the more we plant, the more they can cool their surroundings and improve their odds of coping with climate change.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/residential-green-spaces-protect-growing-cities-against-climate-change-183513">Residential green spaces protect growing cities against climate change</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/188807/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez is employed by Western Sydney University and received funding from the Which Plant Where project via the Hort Frontiers Green Cities Fund developed by Hort Innovation with co-investment from Macquarie University, Western Sydney University, the New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment, and the Australian Government.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Mark G Tjoelker received funding from the Which Plant Where project via the Hort Frontiers Green Cities Fund developed by Hort Innovation with co-investment from Macquarie University, Western Sydney University, the New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment, and the Australian Government.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Rachael Gallagher receives funding from Hort Innovation Australia. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jaana Dielenberg and Jonathan Lenoir do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Urban plantings are part of the solution to living in warmer cities, but most tree and shrub species in the world’s cities will struggle too. The impacts on liveability could be huge.Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez, Lecturer and Research Fellow, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney UniversityJaana Dielenberg, University Fellow, Charles Darwin UniversityJonathan Lenoir, Senior Researcher in Ecology & Biostatistics (CNRS), Université de Picardie Jules Verne (UPJV)Mark G Tjoelker, Professor and Associate Director, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney UniversityRachael Gallagher, Associate Professor, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1899692022-09-12T20:27:47Z2022-09-12T20:27:47ZAn arms race over food waste: Sydney cockatoos are still opening kerb-side bins, despite our best efforts to stop them<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483908/original/file-20220912-22-hl7846.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=11%2C0%2C1891%2C1069&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Barbara Klump</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Bloody hell! That cockatoo just opened my bin, and it’s eating my leftover pizza. We can’t have that, I’ll put a rock on the lid to stop it opening the bin. Problem solved…? </p>
<p>And so began an arms race in the suburbs of southern Sydney: humans trying to deter sulphur-crested cockatoos from opening kerb-side bins, and cockatoos overcoming their deterrents to feast on our food waste. </p>
<p>The ability to open kerb-side bins is unique to cockatoos of southern Sydney, but this behaviour appears to be spreading. Last year, we published research <a href="https://theconversation.com/clever-cockatoos-in-southern-sydney-have-learned-to-open-kerb-side-bins-and-it-has-global-significance-164794">revealing that</a> this behaviour is a stunning display of “social learning”, as birds learn the bin-opening technique by observing its neighbour. </p>
<p>This had global significance – it meant we can add parrots to the list of animals capable of foraging culture, which also includes <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/21415">chimpanzees</a>, <a href="https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/340/6131/485.full.pdf?casa_token=kn6Xq36d784AAAAA:zMXuxW7FTUhJNzvtpoMwwxnTsjgaKDVUc8x-SvZ0Y_MbSxp08b2VnBggW5Qn3xJHLiNIecO_VluVIsa4">humpback whales</a> and <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspb.2002.2302?casa_token=kJ9aPGMR7bsAAAAA:FwdIIgpVkDJZcQIG1dAn0f4swE-4_ZF6Tjjq4XzuBN0Jcm4ecerGwiFAkdEi0eA7O6ssrF40DfbcHEzw">New Caledonian crows</a>.</p>
<p>Our <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(22)01285-4">new research</a>, published today, documents 50 bin-protection methods. It provides another example of a global issue of human-wildlife conflict – indeed, it is rare to document a behavioural change of a species in response to the actions of another. </p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-Sl1WZ073eg?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">Cockatoos in southern Sydney have learned to open kerb-side bins.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Cockatoos make a mess</h2>
<p>While cockatoos opening bins is fascinating, it can also create a mess. The birds search through the rubbish to find food, occasionally throwing out items in the way. Needless to say, coming home to find your rubbish spread on the ground in front of your house is not appreciated. </p>
<p>Some people are also concerned that the food being eaten isn’t healthy for the cockies, such as pizza, bread or chicken.</p>
<p>This arms race is a unique story, as we show it not only involves social learning by cockatoos, but also by humans in response. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/clever-cockatoos-in-southern-sydney-have-learned-to-open-kerb-side-bins-and-it-has-global-significance-164794">Clever cockatoos in southern Sydney have learned to open kerb-side bins — and it has global significance</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Through our community survey, participants reported how and when they protected their bins from cockatoos, that they changed their bin protection in response to the cockies solving a method, and that they learnt new protection methods from their neighbours. </p>
<p>Our research shows people have escalated their methods to deter cockatoos from opening bins over time, as cockies overcame their efforts. These appear to prevent or hamper cockatoos from opening the bin lid (at least for now), while allowing it to be emptied when the bin is inverted by the garbage truck.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1563816523759702016"}"></div></p>
<h2>From rubber snakes to custom locks</h2>
<p>Our research made observations about the many innovative ways to stop cockatoos opening bins, but we plan to assess the success of different methods in more detail in the future.</p>
<p>We’ll start with the quick and easy method of placing a brick, wood, metal or bottle filled with water on top of the bin lid, making it too heavy for a cockatoo to lift. If the object is heavy enough, then it should work. </p>
<p>If it isn’t, a cockatoo can push it off, open the lid and have a feed, as the video below shows.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lVEAprXGHhU?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">A sulphur-crested cockatoo pushing a brick off a bin lid, opening it and then searching for food.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A more sophisticated solution is to bolt wood, metal or brick to the lid, or strapping the bottles to the top or underside of the lid. This method permanently makes the lid too heavy and appears to be an effective deterrent.</p>
<p>Another popular method is preventing the bin lid from flipping open via rope, bungee cord, metal spring, or a stick placed through the handle or hinge. These methods had only varying success. </p>
<p>Attaching a custom designed lock was also popular and, if working properly, appears to deter cockies. These locks allow the bin to open when tipped upside down by the garbage truck. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483911/original/file-20220912-16-hx4d1t.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483911/original/file-20220912-16-hx4d1t.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483911/original/file-20220912-16-hx4d1t.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483911/original/file-20220912-16-hx4d1t.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483911/original/file-20220912-16-hx4d1t.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483911/original/file-20220912-16-hx4d1t.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483911/original/file-20220912-16-hx4d1t.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483911/original/file-20220912-16-hx4d1t.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A door mat protects a bin from cockatoos.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Barbara Klump</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Some people placed metal or plastic spikes around the rim to prevent the birds landing, or they installed barriers to stop a bird getting their beak under the bin lid. These methods appeared to work.</p>
<p>Methods with poor outcomes include modifying the bin lid to deter the birds from landing or walking by making them uncomfortable, such as with netting. And aiming to scare the birds away by attaching a rubber snake is an interesting method but not a popular one, so perhaps it isn’t effective.</p>
<p>Still, the race continues, both in the suburbs where we’ve studied this novel behaviour and in new suburbs as this fast-food foraging behaviour spreads to neighbouring suburbs and, with time, beyond. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483910/original/file-20220912-22-d35anx.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483910/original/file-20220912-22-d35anx.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483910/original/file-20220912-22-d35anx.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483910/original/file-20220912-22-d35anx.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483910/original/file-20220912-22-d35anx.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483910/original/file-20220912-22-d35anx.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483910/original/file-20220912-22-d35anx.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483910/original/file-20220912-22-d35anx.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">One household used shoes to keep the bin lid shut.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Barbara Klump</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>An example of human-wildlife conflict</h2>
<p>We categorise cockatoo bin-opening as a “human-wildlife conflict”. Such conflicts are common, from possums in a household roof, to the official bin-chicken (the Australian white ibis) scavenging a free feed, to <a href="https://theconversation.com/not-in-my-backyard-how-to-live-alongside-flying-foxes-in-urban-australia-59893">flying-foxes</a> roosting in urban areas or foraging in orchards. </p>
<p>Conflicts can result from noise, smell, poo, damage to crops, gardens, or buildings, or threatening people, stock or pets.</p>
<p>Globally, human-wildlife conflict is common and diverse – think <a href="https://theconversation.com/lions-are-less-likely-to-attack-cattle-with-eyes-painted-on-their-backsides-142488">lions eating cattle</a>, monkeys stealing tourists’ cameras, pigeons pooing and nesting in cities, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WukKFYe6Jg">seals sleeping on boats</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/sydney-shark-attack-triggers-calls-for-a-cull-but-lets-take-a-deep-breath-and-look-at-the-evidence-177357">sharks biting people</a>, ducks eating crops, and snakes sharing homes.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483912/original/file-20220912-18-hx4d1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Monkey holding sunglasses" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483912/original/file-20220912-18-hx4d1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/483912/original/file-20220912-18-hx4d1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483912/original/file-20220912-18-hx4d1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483912/original/file-20220912-18-hx4d1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483912/original/file-20220912-18-hx4d1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483912/original/file-20220912-18-hx4d1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/483912/original/file-20220912-18-hx4d1t.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A monkey thief.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Our attempts to deal with such conflicts can have tragic results for wildlife. One extreme example is shark nets, which kills sharks yet don’t prevent them from accessing the beach. They also <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-whales-keep-getting-tangled-in-shark-nets-and-what-should-you-do-if-you-see-it-happen-186468">kill or entangle non-target</a> – and sometimes threatened – species, such as turtles, dolphins, grey-nurse sharks and whales.</p>
<p>We should learn to live alongside wildlife instead, especially as “conflict species” may be under threat, such as the <a href="https://theconversation.com/not-in-my-backyard-how-to-live-alongside-flying-foxes-in-urban-australia-59893">grey-headed flying-foxes</a> (an important pollinator) or great white sharks (an important predator).</p>
<p>In many instances of human-wildlife conflict, public education goes a long way to reducing conflict. Understanding wildlife behaviour and appreciating the fascinating features of native species often favourably shifts community attitudes – we can grow to love them, not fight them.</p>
<p>So whether it’s finding new and harmless ways to protect your bin from hungry cockatoos, or having shark-smart behaviour, there are positive actions we can take if we are informed. </p>
<hr>
<p><em>To help our ongoing research, please take the <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfvkgCX4n5SZ-_gG-CYabnMuxyVdy_ciOdFNLkiErTZWgs9ng/viewform">2022 Bin-Opening Survey</a> and report if you “have” or “have not” seen cockatoos opening bins.</em></p>
<p><em>The authors gratefully thank the contributions of the survey participants and research volunteers; we acknowledge our co-authors of this research: Barbara, Lucy, Damien, and Richard.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/189969/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>John Martin receives funding from the ARC. </span></em></p>New research documented 50 different ways Sydneysiders tried to stop sulphur-crested cockatoos opening their bins, from rubber snakes to custom locks. Humans didn’t always win.John Martin, Animal Ecology Lab, Western Sydney UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1868932022-08-03T12:10:42Z2022-08-03T12:10:42ZCoyotes are here to stay in North American cities – here’s how to appreciate them from a distance<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/476377/original/file-20220727-15-49bdtr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=42%2C0%2C4752%2C3151&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">A coyote on a golf course in Scottsdale, Ariz., June 19, 2011.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://flic.kr/p/9UXnkz">Dru Bloomfield/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Coyotes have become <a href="https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.759.15149">practically ubiquitous</a> across the lower 48 United States, and they’re increasingly turning up in cities. The draws are <a href="https://urbancoyoteresearch.com/sites/default/files/resources/ecologycoyotes.pdf">abundant food and green space</a> in urban areas. </p>
<p>At first these appearances were novelties, like the hot summer day in 2007 when a coyote wandered <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3005523&page=1">into a Chicago Quiznos</a> sub shop and jumped into the beverage cooler. Within a few years, however, coyote sightings became common in <a href="https://narratively.com/tracking-the-great-coyote-invasion-of-nyc/">the Bronx and Manhattan</a>. In 2021 a coyote strolled into a <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/08/22/coyote-in-classroom-los-angeles-back-to-school/8235396002/">Los Angeles Catholic school</a> classroom. They’re also appearing in <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-more-coyotes-are-adapting-to-urban-areas-in-canada-heres-why-they/">Canadian cities</a>.</p>
<p>People often <a href="https://www.rmotoday.com/local-news/study-investigates-fear-of-coyotes-1567946">fear for their own safety</a>, or for their <a href="https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/verify/verify-how-likely-is-a-coyote-to-attack-a-small-child-in-northeast-ohio/95-522589979">children</a> or <a href="https://thebark.com/content/are-you-afraid-coyotes">pets</a>, when they learn about coyotes in their neighborhoods. But as an <a href="https://naturalresources.extension.wisc.edu/uw-urban-canid-project/">interdisciplinary team</a> studying how people and coyotes interact in urban areas, we know that peaceful coexistence is possible – and that these creatures actually bring some benefits to cities. </p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1327368343813197824"}"></div></p>
<h2>Adaptable animals</h2>
<p>Coyotes can <a href="https://urbancoyoteresearch.com/sites/default/files/resources/Urban%20coyote%20ecology%20journal.pdf">thrive in urban environments</a> because they are incredibly adaptable. As omnivores, coyotes can <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0587.2001.tb00205.x">change their diets</a> depending on <a href="https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1693&context=icwdm_usdanwrc">the type of food that’s available</a>. </p>
<p>In rural areas coyotes may feed on bird eggs, rabbits, deer and a wide range of nonanimal matter, like plants and fruits. In urban environments they’ll supplement their natural diet with human-provided food sources, such as outdoor pet feeders and garbage cans.</p>
<p>Coyotes prefer to live in packs, and usually do so in rural areas. In urban areas, coyotes live in packs as well, although it may not seem that way because they are often seen individually rather than as a group.</p>
<p>Solitary coyotes not associated with a pack are somewhat common but tend to be transitory animals looking to join a pack or establish a new one in an unoccupied territory. These solitary coyotes can roam many miles per day, which enables them to disperse to new cities in search of food. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/477210/original/file-20220802-24-q9c9pb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Map of the west side of Madison, Wisconsin, with stars indicating places a coyote stopped" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/477210/original/file-20220802-24-q9c9pb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/477210/original/file-20220802-24-q9c9pb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=463&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/477210/original/file-20220802-24-q9c9pb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=463&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/477210/original/file-20220802-24-q9c9pb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=463&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/477210/original/file-20220802-24-q9c9pb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=582&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/477210/original/file-20220802-24-q9c9pb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=582&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/477210/original/file-20220802-24-q9c9pb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=582&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Urban coyotes can roam multiple miles a day. This map of the west side of Madison, Wisconsin, tracks a male coyote collared by the UW Urban Canid Project. Each red star shows somewhere he stopped over the span of a few days.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.facebook.com/uwurbancanidproject/photos/a.1581580038745965/3131229720447648/?type=3">University of Wisconsin Urban Canid Project</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Some wild species need very specific types of habitat to survive. For example, the Kirtland’s warbler is a rare North American songbird that breeds only in <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Kirtlands_Warbler/overview">young jack pine forests in Michigan, Wisconsin and Ontario</a>. In contrast, coyotes are <a href="https://www.worldcat.org/title/wild-canids-their-systematics-behavioral-ecology-and-evolution/oclc/1093505">habitat generalists</a> that can live on and around a wide variety of land types and covers. </p>
<p>Many kinds of habitat that <a href="https://doi.org/10.3996/062013-JFWM-040">coyotes use in rural areas</a>, such as parks, prairies, forest patches and wetlands, are also found in cities. Typically coyotes avoid the urban cores, but <a href="https://urbancoyoteresearch.com/sites/default/files/resources/Urban%20coyote%20ecology%20journal.pdf">in Chicago</a> they inhabit the downtown area and have been able to survive quite well.</p>
<p>Finally, urban coyotes have <a href="https://doi.org/10.5070/V425110351">flexible activity patterns</a>. Most urban coyotes are active mainly between dusk and dawn, when they are less visible than in daylight. However, as coyotes grow used to humans and begin to lose their fear of people, they may be seen more frequently during daylight hours.</p>
<h2>Hunting rodents and spreading seeds</h2>
<p>Studies show that urban coyotes generally avoid direct interactions with people. A long-term <a href="https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/cate/vol4/iss1/3/">study in Chicago</a> found that these animals are good at adapting to human-built environments and navigating urban areas without being seen by humans. Often people may not realize they’re sharing the urban landscape with coyotes until they see one in their neighborhood. </p>
<p>Despite their <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Coyote-mythology">trickster portrayal in folklore</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HQeJESRcDU">popular media</a>, coyotes tend to avoid conflict. They enter urban landscapes because they’re opportunistic. And because cities don’t have <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apex%20predator">apex predators</a> like wolves or bears, there are lots of smaller wild prey species, such as squirrels and rabbits, running around for coyotes to feed on. </p>
<p>A 2021 study conducted in Madison, Wisconsin, found that the vast majority of human interactions with coyotes there <a href="http://dx.doi.org/doi:%2010.1093/jue/juaa032">were benign</a>. When asked to rank how aggressive coyotes had been during interactions on a scale of 0 (calm) to 5 (aggressive), most of the 398 people in the study chose zero. More than half of the coyotes in the study moved away from the human, indicating that the animals maintained a healthy fear of people.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/476380/original/file-20220727-11-fg0yin.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Graphic explaining how to behave around urban coyotes" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/476380/original/file-20220727-11-fg0yin.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/476380/original/file-20220727-11-fg0yin.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=464&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476380/original/file-20220727-11-fg0yin.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=464&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476380/original/file-20220727-11-fg0yin.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=464&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476380/original/file-20220727-11-fg0yin.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=583&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476380/original/file-20220727-11-fg0yin.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=583&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/476380/original/file-20220727-11-fg0yin.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=583&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">Coyotes are present throughout Florida, including in urban areas like Miami and Tampa-St. Petersburg.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://myfwc.com/media/15892/coyotes-in-florida-infographic.jpg">Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission</a></span>
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<p>And having coyotes around can be useful. In urban areas they are at the top of the food chain and can help regulate populations of prey species such as rabbits, rats and mice. Since coyotes are omnivores, they also eat plant material and spread seeds when they defecate. </p>
<p>Our team is working to learn <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2020.1748768">how people feel</a> about coyotes in their urban communities so that we can identify the best ways to foster positive human-coyote relationships. In Madison, we’ve found that many people appreciate coyotes and are likely to respond positively to messages that highlight coyotes as a valued part of the urban landscape. </p>
<h2>Don’t be afraid to haze</h2>
<p>If you encounter an urban coyote, it’s OK to enjoy watching it from a safe distance. But then <a href="https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/coyote-hazing">haze it</a> by making noise – for example, yelling and waving your arms to look big. </p>
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<figcaption><span class="caption">University of Wisconsin wildlife extension specialist David Drake shows how to haze a coyote.</span></figcaption>
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<p>For animal lovers, this might seem harsh, but it’s extremely important to make sure the coyote doesn’t get too close. This teaches the animal to keep away from people. In the rare cases in which urban coyotes have attacked humans, the animals typically had <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/23/urban-coyotes-us-suburbs-dallas">become habituated to human presence</a> over time.</p>
<p>If you have pets, keep them leashed in public parks and watch them when they’re loose in unfenced yards. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.687504">Keep their food inside as well</a>. To a coyote, a dishful of dog food is an easy free meal, and it may cause coyotes to revisit the area more frequently than they would if human-provided food weren’t accessible. </p>
<p>Based on existing research, we believe urban landscapes have plenty of room for coyotes and humans to <a href="https://naturalresources.extension.wisc.edu/uw-urban-canid-project/coexisting-with-canids/">coexist peacefully</a>. It starts with each species giving the other enough room to go about its business. To learn more about these amazingly adaptable animals, check out the national nonprofit <a href="https://projectcoyote.org/">Project Coyote</a> and the Wisconsin-based <a href="https://naturalresources.extension.wisc.edu/uw-urban-canid-project/">Urban Canid Project</a>.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/186893/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>David Drake receives funding from a variety of federal and state government agencies, as well as foundations </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Associate Professor, Department of Life Sciences Communication and Division of Extension, University of Wisconsin-Madison</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Mary Magnuson is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin Urban Canid Project. She is an AAAS Mass Media Fellow working with The Conversation for the summer of 2022. </span></em></p>Urban coyotes prey on rodents and spread plant seeds. It’s OK to observe them from a distance, but then you should chase them off.David Drake, Professor of Forest and Wildlife Ecology and Extension Wildlife Specialist, University of Wisconsin-MadisonBret Shaw, Associate Professor of Life Sciences Communication, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMary Magnuson, Master's student in Environment and Resources, University of Wisconsin-MadisonLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1872592022-07-20T20:07:56Z2022-07-20T20:07:56ZYes, the state of the environment is grim, but you can make a difference, right in your own neighbourhoood<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/475062/original/file-20220720-27-bud0gi.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C6709%2C4466&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>The newly released <a href="https://soe.dcceew.gov.au/">State of the Environment</a> report paints a predictably grim picture. Species are in decline, ecosystems are at breaking point, and threats abound. For many of us, it can feel like a problem that’s too big, too complex and too distant to solve.</p>
<p>But this report also shows every Australian can be on the conservation frontline. We can save species in the places we live and work. According to the report, Australia’s cities and towns are home to more than 96% of our population and 46% of threatened species. We have <a href="https://threatenedspeciesincities.org">mapped the occurrence</a> of hundreds of threatened species in urban areas. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/this-is-australias-most-important-report-on-the-environments-deteriorating-health-we-present-its-grim-findings-186131">This is Australia's most important report on the environment's deteriorating health. We present its grim findings</a>
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<p>We share our cities with iconic <a href="https://theconversation.com/frozen-sperm-and-assisted-reproduction-time-to-pull-out-all-stops-to-save-the-endangered-koala-179368">koalas</a>, charming <a href="https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/gang-gang-cockatoo">gang-gang cockatoos</a> and floral wonders like <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=9683">Caley’s grevillea</a>. And, as the report notes, some species are <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-39-endangered-species-in-melbourne-sydney-adelaide-and-other-australian-cities-114741">found only in urban areas</a> – our cities and towns are the last chance to save them from extinction. What an incredible opportunity to reconnect Australians with our fantastic natural heritage and protect it at the same time.</p>
<p>Our <a href="https://nespurban.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Urban-biodiversity-conservationV5.pdf">research</a> shows a huge appetite for saving nature in cities. Councils, industry and community groups all over the country are working to make change. </p>
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<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-39-endangered-species-in-melbourne-sydney-adelaide-and-other-australian-cities-114741">The 39 endangered species in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and other Australian cities</a>
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<p>Here are five things we can think about to improve the state of our city environments. </p>
<h2>1. Small but mighty</h2>
<p>Don’t have a lot of space? That’s OK! Whether it’s a small pond, garden strip or solitary gum tree, these often provide a key resource that isn’t found elsewhere in the nearby landscape. This means they pack a punch when it comes to supporting local nature. </p>
<p>And resources like these all add up. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320716306747">Researchers found</a> that a collection of small, urban grassland reserves supported more native plants, and rarer species, than just a few large reserves. </p>
<p>So while making one small change might feel futile, it can make a big difference. </p>
<h2>2. Embracing the ‘in between’</h2>
<p>Conservation doesn’t just happen in nature reserves, which is good, because urban areas don’t have many. Backyards are already making huge contributions through “<a href="https://gardensforwildlifevictoria.com/">gardens for wildlife</a>” initiatives. </p>
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<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/want-to-help-save-wildlife-after-the-fires-you-can-do-it-in-your-own-backyard-131896">Want to help save wildlife after the fires? You can do it in your own backyard</a>
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<p>But what about the more unconventional spaces? <a href="https://nespurban.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/M44_Threatened-species-in-cities-report_FINAL.pdf">We found</a> city-dwelling species take advantage of roadsides, schoolyards, carpark gardens, railway stations and rooftops. These <a href="https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cobi.13193">are all opportunities</a> for us to make a little more space for nature in cities. </p>
<h2>3. Grand designs for wildlife</h2>
<p>People aren’t the only ones facing a housing crisis – wildlife struggle too. The tree hollows, rock piles and fallen wood that many species call home are often removed in favour of sleek lines and tidy urban spaces. </p>
<p>You can provide valuable real estate for local critters by adding <a href="https://nestboxtales.com">nesting boxes</a>, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/factsheets/bee-grade-hotels/13262244">bee hotels</a> and <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/factsheets/lizard-lounge/10930978">lizard lounges</a>. And simply leaving a designated “messy patch” in your garden improves the local habitat too.</p>
<h2>4. Creative connections</h2>
<p>Moving safely through cities can be risky for wildlife. They have to navigate cars, fences, roaming pets and swathes of concrete. </p>
<p>Many councils and road agencies are looking at creative ways to help wildlife get from A to B. Solutions range from rope bridges for <a href="https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/news/gs-news/2021/western-sydney-wildlife-crossing-a-wild-success">western Sydney’s sugar gliders</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BotanicGardensVictoria/videos/boisterous-bandicoot/347796146469198/">tunnels for Melbourne’s bandicoots</a> to <a href="https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/clean-and-green/natural-environment-and-water/biodiversity-in-brisbane/wildlife-in-brisbane/wildlife-movement-solutions">forested bridges</a> for Brisbane’s bush birds. Some gardeners in Bunbury even built their own backyard “possum bridges” to help the endangered western ringtail possum in their neighbourhoods. </p>
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<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/475039/original/file-20220720-18-vtp95o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Overpass with vegetation planted on it spans a road" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/475039/original/file-20220720-18-vtp95o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/475039/original/file-20220720-18-vtp95o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/475039/original/file-20220720-18-vtp95o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/475039/original/file-20220720-18-vtp95o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/475039/original/file-20220720-18-vtp95o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/475039/original/file-20220720-18-vtp95o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/475039/original/file-20220720-18-vtp95o.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">The forested bridge across Compton Road, Brisbane, enables wildlife to travel safely between two areas of natural habitat.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Kylie Soanes</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
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<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/10-million-animals-are-hit-on-our-roads-each-year-heres-how-you-can-help-them-and-steer-clear-of-them-these-holidays-149733">10 million animals are hit on our roads each year. Here’s how you can help them (and steer clear of them) these holidays</a>
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<h2>5. People power</h2>
<p>Having threatened species live close to people is typically seen as bit of “negative’” in the conservation world. But this closeness can be an advantage if the community is aware and engaged. </p>
<p>Orchids like the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/how-victoria-s-snow-in-the-paddocks-melted-away-and-is-being-saved-20191104-p5379a.html">sunshine diuris</a> and Frankston spider orchid would surely be extinct if not for countless hours of volunteer work, crowd-funding and the passion of the local community. </p>
<p>Get involved through your local council or <a href="https://landcareaustralia.org.au/landcare-get-involved/findagroup/">“Friends of” groups</a> to see how you can support nature in your neck of the woods.</p>
<h2>Urban habitats – often small and scrappy, always valuable</h2>
<p>There are so many wonderful ways to support nature in cities. Recent examples include <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-15/city-melbourne-unleashes-goat-herd-royal-park-whites-skink/101242048">conservation goats saving native skinks</a>, floating <a href="https://www.camden.nsw.gov.au/media-centre/latest-news/floating-wetlands-installed-at-harrington-park-lake/">habitat rafts in city waterways</a> and using <a href="https://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/Environment_Waste/Sustainability/What_is_Council_Doing/Living_Seawalls_Project">flowerpots</a> on concrete sea walls to support marine life. New ideas are being explored and tested all over the country.</p>
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<figcaption><span class="caption">The Living Seawalls project is restoring biodiversity along the seawalls that account for over half of the foreshore around Sydney Harbour.</span></figcaption>
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<p>Some of the best examples bring all these ideas together. For example, <a href="https://www.theheartgardeningproject.org.au/melbourne-pollinator-corridor">Melbourne’s Pollinator Corridor</a>, led by the Heart Gardening Project, helps individual community members convert their own small urban patch into a bee-friendly garden. When complete, 200 individual gardens will create an 8km pollinator paradise between two of the city’s largest parks. </p>
<p>Right now, efforts to save nature in cities are driven by champions – individuals in our communities, local councils or industry who see an opportunity to make a difference, no matter how small, and fight to make it happen. Imagine what we could achieve if more of us pitched in.</p>
<p>So, look around. Can you add just one small patch? Contact your local council about turning a neglected roadside strip into a pollinator paradise? Or maybe set up a little B&B for wildlife in your backyard? </p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/bandbs-for-birds-and-bees-transform-your-garden-or-balcony-into-a-wildlife-haven-129907">B&Bs for birds and bees: transform your garden or balcony into a wildlife haven</a>
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<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/317999/original/file-20200302-18287-127mcmh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/317999/original/file-20200302-18287-127mcmh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=871&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317999/original/file-20200302-18287-127mcmh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=871&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317999/original/file-20200302-18287-127mcmh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=871&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317999/original/file-20200302-18287-127mcmh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1094&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317999/original/file-20200302-18287-127mcmh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1094&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/317999/original/file-20200302-18287-127mcmh.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1094&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Wes Mountain/The Conversation</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
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</figure><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/187259/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Kylie Soanes previously received funding from the Australian Governments National Environmental Science Program. She is affiliated with the Ecological Society of Australia and Science and Technology Australia. </span></em></p>Having so many threatened species live among us in our towns and cities reflects the impacts of urban development but is also an opportunity for us all to pitch in and ensure their survival.Kylie Soanes, Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of MelbourneLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1802282022-04-08T12:34:06Z2022-04-08T12:34:06ZTo protect wildlife from free-roaming cats, a zone defense may be more effective than trying to get every feline off the street<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/456624/original/file-20220406-7184-ca7n0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=16%2C8%2C5590%2C3724&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Killer on the loose.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/street-cat-walking-on-cobblestone-street-royalty-free-image/1303705524">Alex Walker via Getty Images</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Should domestic cats be allowed to roam freely outdoors? It’s a contentious issue. Those who say yes assert that they’re <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s12136-019-00408-x">defending outdoor cats</a> and the <a href="https://www.alleycat.org/about/">people who care for them</a>. Critics respond that free-roaming cats <a href="https://theconversation.com/dont-let-them-out-15-ways-to-keep-your-indoor-cat-happy-138716">kill so many birds, reptiles, mammals and important insects like butterflies and dragonflies</a> that they <a href="https://abcbirds.org/program/cats-indoors/cats-and-birds">threaten biodiversity on a global scale</a>. </p>
<p>As <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dan-Herrera">conservation</a> <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=RaEz6G8AAAAJ&hl=en">biologists</a> familiar with these clashing viewpoints, we wondered whether there was room for a more nuanced strategy than the typical yes/no standoff. In a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109503">recently published study</a>, we used camera traps at hundreds of sites across Washington, D.C., to analyze the predatory behavior of urban free-roaming cats. The cameras recorded all cats that passed them, so our study did not distinguish between feral cats and pet cats roaming outdoors.</p>
<p>Our data showed that the cats were unlikely to prey on native wildlife, such as songbirds or small mammals, when they were farther than roughly 1,500 feet (500 meters) from a forested area, such as a park or wooded backyard. We also found that when cats were approximately 800 feet (250 meters) or farther from forest edges, they were more likely to prey on rats than on native wildlife. </p>
<p>Since the average urban domestic cat ranges over a small area – <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12563">roughly 550 feet</a> (170 meters), or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_block">one to two city blocks</a> – the difference between a diet that consists exclusively of native species and one without any native prey can be experienced within a single cat’s range. Our findings suggest that focusing efforts on managing cat populations near forested areas may be a more effective conservation strategy than attempting to manage an entire city’s outdoor cat population. </p>
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<figcaption><span class="caption">Cats have an instinctual drive to hunt, even when they’re well-fed, and pursue many types of prey.</span></figcaption>
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<h2>Cats on the loose</h2>
<p>Free-roaming cats are a common sight in Washington, D.C., which has a feline population of <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/09/24/cat-count-dc/">200,000</a>. Like many cities, Washington has had its share of <a href="https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/445531/d-c-official-wildlife-plan-does-not-endorse-killing-feral-cats/">cat management controversies</a>. </p>
<p>Professionals on either side of the free-roaming cat debate largely agree that cats are safest when kept indoors. An outdoor cat’s lifespan generally peaks <a href="https://pets.webmd.com/cats/features/should-you-have-an-indoor-cat-or-an-outdoor-cat">around 5 years</a>, compared with 10 to 15 years for an indoor cat. Free-roaming cats face numerous threats, including vehicle collisions and contact with rat poison. Acknowledging these risks, most animal welfare organizations encourage <a href="https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/our-position-cats">an indoor-only lifestyle</a>.</p>
<p>Similarly, there is little disagreement that cats hunt; for centuries humans have used them for rodent control. But invasive rats, which are often the target of modern rodent control, <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/09/cats-vs-rats-new-york/571414/">can grow too large</a> to be easy prey for cats. In response, cats also pursue smaller species that are easier to catch. Studies have linked cats to <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1602480113">63 extinctions globally</a> and estimated that cats <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2380">kill 12.3 billion wild mammals</a> annually in the U.S. alone. </p>
<p>Disagreements arise around handling cats that already live outside. Population management programs often utilize trap-neuter-return, or TNR – a process in which cats are trapped, spayed or neutered and re-released where they were caught. </p>
<p>In theory, TNR limits population growth by reducing the number of kittens that will be born. In reality it is rarely effective, since <a href="https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2004.225.1871">75% of individual cats must be treated every year</a> to reduce the population, which is often not feasible. Regardless, reproduction itself is not what most worries conservation biologists.</p>
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<h2>Feline invaders</h2>
<p>Today the Earth is losing wild species at such a rate that many scientists believe it is experiencing its <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1922686117">sixth mass extinction</a>. In this context, free-roaming cats’ effects on wildlife are a serious concern. Cats have an instinctual drive to hunt, even if they are fed by humans. Many wildlife populations are <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/09/10/911500907/the-world-lost-two-thirds-of-its-wildlife-in-50-years-we-are-to-blame">already struggling to survive</a> in a rapidly changing world. Falling prey to a non-native species doesn’t help.</p>
<p>Cats <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/new-data-on-killer-house-cats/">aren’t picky hunters</a> but will pounce on the easiest available prey. This generalist predatory behavior contributes to their reputation as <a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/worst-invasive-predators/#:%7E:text=Cats%20are%20number%20one%E2%80%94the,for%2063%20modern%2Dday%20extinctions.">one of the most damaging invasive species</a>. In our view, however, it could also be a key to limiting their ecological impact.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/456666/original/file-20220406-18446-icfn7.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Silhouettes of predator species above bar charts representing threatened species they kill." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/456666/original/file-20220406-18446-icfn7.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/456666/original/file-20220406-18446-icfn7.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=207&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/456666/original/file-20220406-18446-icfn7.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=207&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/456666/original/file-20220406-18446-icfn7.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=207&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/456666/original/file-20220406-18446-icfn7.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=260&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/456666/original/file-20220406-18446-icfn7.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=260&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/456666/original/file-20220406-18446-icfn7.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=260&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">This graphic shows the numbers of threatened and extinct bird (B), mammal (M) and reptile (R) species negatively affected by invasive mammalian predators. Gray bars are the total number of extinct and threatened species, and red bars are extinct species. Predators (L to R) are the cat, rodents, dog, pig, small Indian mongoose, red fox and stoat.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1602480113">Doherty et al., 2016</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Managing cats based on their behavior</h2>
<p>Since cats are generalist predators, their wild-caught diet tends to reflect the local species that are available. In areas with more birds than mammals, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2009.09.013">like New Zealand</a>, birds are cats’ primary prey. Similarly, cat diets in the most developed portions of cities likely reflect the most available prey species – rats.</p>
<p>While cats top the list of harmful invasive species, <a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/worst-invasive-predators/#:%7E:text=Cats%20are%20number%20one%E2%80%94the,for%2063%20modern%2Dday%20extinctions.">rats aren’t far behind</a>. In cities, rats spread disease, contaminate food and <a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/rat-increase-can-have-real-impact-on-city-infrastructure/24370/">damage infrastructure</a>. There aren’t many downsides to free-roaming cats preying on rats.</p>
<p>City centers have <a href="https://www.governing.com/archive/gov-rodents-rats-population-urban-cities.html">no shortage of rats</a>, which can live anywhere, including parks, subways, sewers and buildings. But native animals tend to stay in or near <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2017.00063">areas with sufficient outdoor habitat</a>, like parks and forested neighborhoods. When cats hunt in these same spaces, they are a threat to native wildlife. But if cats don’t share these spaces with native species, the risk declines dramatically.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V5UyRGuSDUk?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">The National Park Service built a specially designed 5-mile fence on the island of Hawaii to protect endangered petrels from predation by feral cats.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Conservation funding is limited, so it’s critical to choose effective strategies. The traditional approach to cat management has largely consisted of attempting to prohibit cats from being loose altogether – an approach that’s incredibly unpopular with people who care for outdoor cats. Despite <a href="https://abcbirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Letter-to-Secretary-Jewell.pdf">calls for outdoor cat bans</a>, few have been enacted. </p>
<p>Instead, we suggest prioritizing areas where wildlife is most at risk. For example, cities could create “no cat zones” near urban habitats, which would forbid releasing trap-neuter-return cats in those areas and fine owners in those areas who let their cats roam outdoors. </p>
<p>In Washington, D.C., this would include <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109503">forested neighborhoods</a> like Palisades or Buena Vista, as well as homes near parks like Rock Creek. As we see it, this targeted approach would have more impact than citywide outdoor cat bans that are unpopular and difficult to enforce.</p>
<p>Hard-line policies have done little to reduce outdoor cat populations across the U.S. Instead, we believe a data-driven and targeted approach to cat management is a more effective way to protect wildlife.</p>
<p>[<em>Understand new developments in science, health and technology, each week.</em> <a href="https://memberservices.theconversation.com/newsletters/?nl=science&source=inline-science-understand">Subscribe to The Conversation’s science newsletter</a>.]</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/180228/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>A new study shows that when free-ranging cats are more than a few blocks from forested areas in cities, such as parks, they’re more likely to prey on rats than on native wildlife.Daniel Herrera, PhD Student in Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason UniversityTravis Gallo, Assistant Professor of Urban Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, George Mason UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1746092022-02-13T13:13:53Z2022-02-13T13:13:53ZLiving peacefully with coyotes means respecting their boundaries<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/445525/original/file-20220209-25-xf1pld.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C5649%2C3763&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Misconceptions about coyotes are based on misunderstanding their behaviour.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>On average, <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2011.599050">three people per year are “attacked” (that means bitten or scratched) by coyotes across Canada</a>. In comparison, an average of <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/lightning/safety/fatalities-injury-statistics.html">180 Canadians per year are reportedly struck by lightning</a>. Critically, 100 per cent of incidents involving coyotes are linked to human feeding. </p>
<p>I have studied coyotes and other wild canids for over 30 years. Co-existence with coyotes is possible. My understanding comes from many places: being a care-giver to orphaned coyote pups, studying the development of coyote play and communication, helping trap and radio-collar them, supervising multiple theses and, most recently, monitoring a multi-generational coyote family for years. I interact with coyotes at very close range, and sparingly use aversive conditioning, which involves using my voice, body and a held object to establish boundaries.</p>
<h2>Distorted risks</h2>
<p>I am often asked how citizens can protect themselves against “aggressive coyotes.” In my research, I found that coyotes rarely exhibit aggression, but human fear of coyotes is pervasive and overrides scientific evidence. While sometimes unintended, the use of risk narratives (including misplaced words like bold, aggressive) by scientists or media has the demonstrated effect of tapping into existing fear — this is referred to as the “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2020.1748768">social amplification of risk</a>.” </p>
<p>People then normalize the idea that coyotes are likely to attack, rather than the more apt narrative: Coyotes are simply trying to survive, preferring to avoid people. When coyotes react, it is to protect themselves, their mates or pups from an actual or perceived threat, like dogs chasing them or coming into a den area, or a person poking at the den with a stick. In the reports that I have reviewed where dogs were attacked, over 90 per cent involved dogs off-leash and at-large.</p>
<p>Coyote reactions stem from context and experience, they are varied and rarely about aggression. Habituation in cities may have led to delayed or less dramatic responses in coyotes, as compared to non-urban coyotes that often desperately flee from humans.</p>
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<figcaption><span class="caption">A documentary on coyotes based on an article in <em>The Walrus</em>.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Living in the city</h2>
<p>Conflict with coyotes is preventable, but when it occurs, it does so in the context of several human-centred factors. Habituation of coyotes is often the first identified culprit. This means that the coyotes become accustomed to human activities, learn to “tune them out” and direct attention to those things that are more important, like finding food.</p>
<p>In wildlife observational research, scientists often strive for animal habituation so the observer may be in plain sight, yet “invisible,” allowing animals to do what they do. In the absence of immediate threats, coyotes learn to sometimes disregard humans.</p>
<p>Yet, there is this myth <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/21582041.2019.1616108">that habituation is bad and that coyotes should fear people</a>. But there is no evidence that the natural state of coyotes is to desperately fear humans that are nearby. I believe this line of thinking is <a href="https://www.e-ir.info/2017/07/03/colonial-animality-canadian-colonialism-and-the-human-animal-relationship/">a colonial mindset that demands animals to be submissive to humans</a>.</p>
<p>Habituation may lead to proximity issues, which can cause conflict if it is coupled with food conditioning — the intentional or unintentional feeding of coyotes. This arises when people fail to keep yards free of food attractants like dog food, bird seed, fallen fruit or compost. A coyote learns to depend on that food source, which can can increase the risk of the coyote guarding food against people and pets. </p>
<p>What is most catastrophic to co-existence is when people decide to deliberately feed coyotes. That often is a death sentence for the coyote because it can eventually demand food. Coyote demand behaviour may include a coyote latching on to a person’s clothing or limbs in an attempt to get food, and can be mistakenly classified as aggression or attack. Once a coyote has bitten a person, the chances of rehabilitation are low relative to the risk of escalation, and a coyote exhibiting this behaviour would likely be killed.</p>
<p>Several studies about coyote diet in Calgary, conducted in my lab, <a href="http://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/cate/vol4/iss1/8">showed less than two per cent of samples contained pet remains</a>. Coyotes are not fully to blame: the city has a bylaw prohibiting free-ranging pets, which many people disregard, subjecting their pets to possible death by owl, eagle, bobcat, domestic dog, coyotes and vehicles. Coyotes often just scavenge, earning them the label “<a href="https://blog.cwf-fcf.org/index.php/en/natures-clean-up-crew/">nature’s clean up crew</a>.”</p>
<h2>Dog encounters</h2>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/445939/original/file-20220211-15283-okxtq8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="coyote cubs play around a fallen tree" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/445939/original/file-20220211-15283-okxtq8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/445939/original/file-20220211-15283-okxtq8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=411&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/445939/original/file-20220211-15283-okxtq8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=411&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/445939/original/file-20220211-15283-okxtq8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=411&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/445939/original/file-20220211-15283-okxtq8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=516&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/445939/original/file-20220211-15283-okxtq8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=516&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/445939/original/file-20220211-15283-okxtq8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=516&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Coyote parents are very defensive of their pups, who are born around early April.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Coyote pups are usually born around early April, known as denning season, and coyotes shift into pup-guarding mode. As a result, there can be a spike in conflict between dogs and coyotes, almost exclusively due to a perceived intrusion by a domestic dog.</p>
<p>Coyotes may first warn by standing and staring, this will increase to vocalization, a bluff charge, then an attack on the dog if the owner does not withdraw immediately. </p>
<p>Coyotes in non-urban situations might prefer certain den characteristics (for example, south-facing slopes), but in fragmented green spaces that dot cities, coyotes may be forced to be resourceful – and the more disturbed they are by people or dogs, the more prone the coyotes are to move pups somewhere perceived to be safer. </p>
<p>Last year at one study site, I observed hundreds of people a week, many with dogs, walked right past a father or mother coyote with four pups less than 30 metres away. The parent coyotes were measured, careful and avoided conflict routinely. Over the course of thousands of possible interactions that summer, there were six reports of “aggressive” or “bold” coyote interactions. In these rare cases, a parent coyote either escorted, bluff charged or vocalized to repel dogs that were allowed to wander in closed areas — there were no attacks or injuries.</p>
<p>On the University of Calgary campus, we have <a href="https://research.ucalgary.ca/wildlife">a peaceful wildlife co-existence program, based on monitoring and investigation, education, enforcement and mitigation</a>. With the help of supportive staff and faculty, responsive deployment of signage or closures, removal of attractants and the measured use of humane aversive conditioning, our program ensures coyotes and surrounding communities continue to use the campus safely, promoting biodiversity and sustainability in the urban ecosystem.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/174609/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Shelley Marie Alexander received funding from SSHRC.</span></em></p>Coyotes are not, by nature, aggressive. But there is a pervasive myth that they are likely to attack unwarranted, and this belief is dangerous to the animals.Shelley Marie Alexander, Professor, Geography, University of CalgaryLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1680892021-09-23T20:04:15Z2021-09-23T20:04:15ZThe sun’s shining and snakes are emerging, but they’re not out to get you. Here’s what they’re really up to<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/422809/original/file-20210923-15-yxnhp7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C14%2C4914%2C3057&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>It’s early spring in southern Australia and the sun is, gloriously, out. You decide to head to your local patch of greenery – by the creek, lake, or foreshore – with the sun on your face, the breeze in your hair, and your dog’s tongue blissfully lolling. </p>
<p>Suddenly you see it. Paused on the path just a few meters in front of your feet, soaking up those same springtime rays — a snake.</p>
<p>Love them or loathe them, snakes have been co-existing with, and haunting us, since well before our ancestors called themselves “human”. From the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Genesis%203%3A1">subtle tempter of Genesis</a> to the <a href="https://www.worldhistory.org/Quetzalcoatl/">feathered serpent deities of Mesoamerica</a>, snakes have always been potent symbols of otherness. </p>
<p>Today, to encounter a snake is to brush up against the wild and mysterious heart of the natural world. Snakes are important members of every terrestrial ecosystem across Australia. Even in the most populous parts of the country, snakes inhabit the remnant bushland dispersed throughout our major cities. </p>
<p>But what exactly influences human–snake interactions? Whether you’re hoping to maximise your chances of seeing one of these shy, fascinating critters or wanting to avoid them at all costs, this article is for you.</p>
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<h2>Snakes in southern springtime</h2>
<p>In southern Australia, a flurry of animal activity occurs in spring. As resources start becoming plentiful after the relatively lean months of winter, spring is the reproductive season for many plants and animals. </p>
<p>One such resource is heat — a particularly crucial resource for organisms such as reptiles, which don’t make their own body heat (unlike mammals). It’s a common misconception, however, that snakes want as much heat as they can get. Like Goldilocks, snakes want the temperature to be just right. </p>
<p>Southern springs are the right temperature for snakes to bask during the times of day we humans are also out and about. In summer, snakes, including venomous species such as tiger snakes and brown snakes, are typically more active very early in the morning, late in the evening, or during the night when temperatures are not too high for them.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/422824/original/file-20210923-15-13vcmkp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/422824/original/file-20210923-15-13vcmkp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/422824/original/file-20210923-15-13vcmkp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422824/original/file-20210923-15-13vcmkp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422824/original/file-20210923-15-13vcmkp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=397&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422824/original/file-20210923-15-13vcmkp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=499&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422824/original/file-20210923-15-13vcmkp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=499&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422824/original/file-20210923-15-13vcmkp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=499&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">During spring in south-eastern Australia, red-bellied blacksnakes are common in suburban areas.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Damian Lettoof</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>After a slow winter, snakes are both hungry (they may have been fasting for months!) and on the lookout for eligible members of the opposite sex. Basking, hunting, and searching for a mate brings snakes out into the open in spring a bit more than at other times of year, so we’re most likely to encounter them during this time.</p>
<h2>Snake activity in northern Australia</h2>
<p>Like all things, snake activity is a little different in the north. Spare a thought for those poor northern Australians who will never know the joys of a snake-filled springtime. </p>
<p>Still, the north has far more snake species than the south, including many species of non-venomous python — the farther south you go, the more our snake fauna is dominated by venomous species (check out <a href="http://www.arod.com.au/arod/">Australian Reptile Online Database</a> for distribution maps).</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/422836/original/file-20210923-22-e8ozjv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/422836/original/file-20210923-22-e8ozjv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/422836/original/file-20210923-22-e8ozjv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422836/original/file-20210923-22-e8ozjv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422836/original/file-20210923-22-e8ozjv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422836/original/file-20210923-22-e8ozjv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422836/original/file-20210923-22-e8ozjv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422836/original/file-20210923-22-e8ozjv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Darwin carpet pythons (<em>Morelia spilota variegata</em>) are most often encountered in the cooler months of the year following the annual wet season.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Chris Jolly</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Because of the unforgiving year-round heat across northern Australia, temperature doesn’t drive snake activity as it does in the south. You will rarely see a basking snake in Australia’s Top End, they’re too busy avoiding the heat.</p>
<p>Instead, snake activity is driven by another important resource – rain. In the Top End, this means <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/aec.12990">snakes are most often encountered following the wet season</a> (April–June) when prey and water abound. </p>
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<p>In other, more arid “boom and bust” systems, large rainfall events may only happen every five to ten years. When they do, they can trigger huge flurries of snake activity as the serpents emerge to take advantage of fleetingly available prey.</p>
<h2>Snakes indicate ecosystem health</h2>
<p>From the moment of birth, all species of snake are predatory, although some, like <a href="http://www.arod.com.au/arod/reptilia/Squamata/Elapidae/Brachyurophis">shovel-nosed snakes</a>, prey only upon eggs. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/422822/original/file-20210923-15-1u7uqly.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/422822/original/file-20210923-15-1u7uqly.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/422822/original/file-20210923-15-1u7uqly.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422822/original/file-20210923-15-1u7uqly.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422822/original/file-20210923-15-1u7uqly.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422822/original/file-20210923-15-1u7uqly.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422822/original/file-20210923-15-1u7uqly.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422822/original/file-20210923-15-1u7uqly.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Shovel-nosed snakes prey only on eggs.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Damian Lettoof</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In some terrestrial Australian ecosystems, snakes are near the top of the food chain. After reaching a certain size, they have few predators of their own. A two-metre coastal taipan in the cane fields of northern Queensland, for example, has more to fear from harvesters than it does from any natural predator. </p>
<p>For large snakes to persist in an environment, they need an abundance of their prey (mice, frogs and lizards), as well as all the species their prey feed upon (invertebrates, even smaller animals, or plants).</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/422838/original/file-20210923-17-14dxlnj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/422838/original/file-20210923-17-14dxlnj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/422838/original/file-20210923-17-14dxlnj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422838/original/file-20210923-17-14dxlnj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422838/original/file-20210923-17-14dxlnj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422838/original/file-20210923-17-14dxlnj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422838/original/file-20210923-17-14dxlnj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422838/original/file-20210923-17-14dxlnj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Coastal taipans (<em>Oxyuranus scutellatus</em>) are exceptionally elusive, but when they are (rarely) encountered, it is most often males observed while they are on the hunt for females during northern Australia’s winter.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Chris Jolly</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Snakes often also have specific habitat requirements. In general, they need shelter and protection from bigger predators, which might include birds of prey, predatory mammals such as native marsupials or introduced cats and foxes, or other snakes. They also need opportunities for safely regulating their body temperature. </p>
<p>This means a snake will only call a place home if it has both a functioning food-web and the necessary habitat complexity. So remember, if you see snakes in your backyard or local park, it’s a sign the ecosystem is doing pretty well.</p>
<h2>Snakes don’t want to bite you</h2>
<p>Snakes are awesome predators, but no Australian snake is interested in eating a human. In fact, they want as little to do with us giant hairless apes as possible.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/422813/original/file-20210923-22-1018xx6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/422813/original/file-20210923-22-1018xx6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/422813/original/file-20210923-22-1018xx6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=384&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422813/original/file-20210923-22-1018xx6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=384&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422813/original/file-20210923-22-1018xx6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=384&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422813/original/file-20210923-22-1018xx6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=482&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422813/original/file-20210923-22-1018xx6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=482&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422813/original/file-20210923-22-1018xx6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=482&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Merri Creek in inner-city Melbourne is famously home to many snakes, including tiger snakes, who bask in the sun at springtime.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Why? Because snakes are actually quite vulnerable animals. Compared to many other species, they are small, have no sharp claws or strong limbs, and limited energy to put up a fight — they are basically limbless lizards with different teeth. </p>
<p>For those that possess it, venom is a last resort and only a minority of species —such as taipans, brown snakes, tiger snakes, and death adders — can deliver a life-threatening bite to a person. But snakes would much rather use their venom to subdue prey (that’s what they have it for) than to defend themselves.</p>
<p>When snakes bite humans in Australia, it’s a defensive reaction to a large animal they view as a potential predator. Remember, they can’t understand your intentions, even if those intentions are good. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/422823/original/file-20210923-23-1dae3xb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/422823/original/file-20210923-23-1dae3xb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/422823/original/file-20210923-23-1dae3xb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=378&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422823/original/file-20210923-23-1dae3xb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=378&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422823/original/file-20210923-23-1dae3xb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=378&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422823/original/file-20210923-23-1dae3xb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=475&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422823/original/file-20210923-23-1dae3xb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=475&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/422823/original/file-20210923-23-1dae3xb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=475&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Tiger snakes and other venomous snakes won’t bite you if you respect their boundaries.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Damian Lettoof</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>If you’re lucky enough to see a wild snake, and if you respect its boundaries and give it personal space, it’s sure to do the same for you. Keep dogs on the lead in snakey areas and educate your kids to be snake-smart from as young as possible. </p>
<p>Even though snakes don’t want to bite, snakebite envenoming can be a life-threatening emergency. Learn <a href="https://biomedicalsciences.unimelb.edu.au/departments/department-of-biochemistry-and-pharmacology/engage/avru/advice-and-resources/first-aid">first aid</a>, and when you go for a walk in one of those sanctuaries of greenery that snakes like as much as we do, carry a compression bandage (or three). </p>
<p>It’s almost certain you will never need it, but it could just save a life.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/does-australia-really-have-the-deadliest-snakes-we-debunk-6-common-myths-145765">Does Australia really have the deadliest snakes? We debunk 6 common myths</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/168089/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Timothy N. W. Jackson receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Chris J Jolly receives funding from National Environmental Science Program (Threatened Species Hub).</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Damian Lettoof receives funding from HWRE. </span></em></p>Whether you’re hoping to maximise your chances of seeing one of these shy, fascinating critters or wanting to avoid them at all costs, this article is for you.Timothy N. W. Jackson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Australian Venom Research Unit, The University of MelbourneChris J Jolly, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Charles Sturt UniversityDamian Lettoof, PhD Candidate, Curtin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1668062021-09-21T12:32:52Z2021-09-21T12:32:52ZArtificial intelligence can help highway departments find bats roosting under bridges<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/421208/original/file-20210914-23-szdzvq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=19%2C11%2C2625%2C1947&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Crowds gather at dusk in Austin, Texas, to watch some 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge to feed from their roost under the Congress Avenue Bridge.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/tourists-and-local-residents-gather-on-the-congress-avenue-news-photo/53057127">Jeff Haynes/AFP via Getty Images</a></span></figcaption></figure><p><em>The <a href="https://theconversation.com/us/topics/research-brief-83231">Research Brief</a> is a short take about interesting academic work.</em></p>
<h2>The big idea</h2>
<p>Photographs and computer vision techniques using artificial intelligence are able to detect the presence of bats on bridges automatically <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981211031904">with over 90% accuracy</a>, according to our new study. </p>
<p>More than 40 species of bats are found in the U.S., and many of them are <a href="http://websites.umich.edu/%7Eesupdate/library/96.04-05/bogan.html">endangered or threatened</a>. Bats often nest by the hundreds or thousands underneath bridges, so transportation departments are required to <a href="https://blogs.illinois.edu/view/7362/211143168">survey for them</a> before conducting repair or replacement projects.</p>
<p>I conducted the recently published study with colleagues at the University of Virginia’s <a href="https://uva-moblab.com/tag/uva/">MOB Lab</a> in collaboration with <a href="http://vtrc.virginiadot.org/">the Virginia Transportation Research Council</a>. </p>
<p>Bridge surveys are important for protecting threatened and endangered bat species. Guano, or excrement, droppings and stains are common signs that bats are present. But it can be hard to verify whether some stains were produced by bats or other sources, such as water seeps, rust staining, asphalt leaching or other types of structural deterioration. However, computers can be trained to detect the difference. </p>
<p>To construct our AI model, my colleagues and I collected a pool of digital photographs of bridges with and without signs that bats may be present. Using these images, we let the model learn the features and traits that identified the presence of bats. We also developed a prototype web application that allows users to interactively upload images of stains on structures and receive classification results from the model. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/419339/original/file-20210903-15-ljufbg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Graphic showing how researchers trained an artificial intelligence system to detect signs in images that bats were present." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/419339/original/file-20210903-15-ljufbg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/419339/original/file-20210903-15-ljufbg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=322&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/419339/original/file-20210903-15-ljufbg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=322&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/419339/original/file-20210903-15-ljufbg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=322&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/419339/original/file-20210903-15-ljufbg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=405&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/419339/original/file-20210903-15-ljufbg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=405&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/419339/original/file-20210903-15-ljufbg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=405&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Researchers customized an AI system that can distinguish a wide range of objects by feeding it 3,238 images that indicate the presence of bats, resulting in a system that is over 90% accurate at spotting signs of bats in new images.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981211031904">Li et al., 2021.</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Why it matters</h2>
<p>Bats are an indispensable part of natural ecosystems: They <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=125883">pollinate plants, disperse seeds and consume insects that prey on crops</a>. Many bat species are at risk due to <a href="https://www.batcon.org/about-bats/bats-101/">habitat loss, climate change, disease and other stresses</a>. </p>
<p>Because bats often roost in large numbers, their populations are vulnerable to human activities that disturb or destroy their habitats. As the number of natural habitats declines, human structures such as bridges and culverts have become ideal alternatives for bat roosts. Often these sites offer stable climates and access to water and foraging sites, such as rivers and parks.</p>
<p>Visual inspection is the main method that transportation departments use to assess whether bats are present, but it’s hard for humans to distinguish bat indicators without comprehensive training. The main indicator, guano, can be very difficult to spot from ground level – for example, it may collect in spots that are hard to see, or fall directly into the water below. Our research can streamline these surveys by making it easier and faster to detect the presence of bats, with an estimate of how accurate the prediction is.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2MGb9LSKJyw?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">A Georgia wildlife technician inspects culverts under roads for bats.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>What other research is being done</h2>
<p>Since bats emit acoustic pulses and use the echoes to learn about their surroundings, devices have been developed that monitor bats by <a href="https://batmanagement.com/blogs/acoustic-monitoring/test-3">detecting their acoustic signals</a>. But this approach only works when live bats are present, so its success depends on when and how the detector is set up. And commercial bat detectors can be expensive, which limits their use by public agencies.</p>
<h2>What’s next</h2>
<p>The Virginia Department of Transportation is planning a pilot study in which bridge inspectors and environmental staff will use our web application as a screening tool. The goal is to assess whether the tool is easy to use and enables inspectors to identify and document the presence of bats with greater confidence. </p>
<p>[<em>The Conversation’s science, health and technology editors pick their favorite stories.</em> <a href="https://theconversation.com/us/newsletters/science-editors-picks-71/?utm_source=TCUS&utm_medium=inline-link&utm_campaign=newsletter-text&utm_content=science-favorite">Weekly on Wednesdays</a>.]</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/166806/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>This research is a result of a project conducted under contract with the Virginia Transportation Research Council, VDOT. The contents of this report reflect only the view of the authors and do not reflect the views or policies of VDOT.</span></em></p>Bats roost under bridges and culverts across North America, so highway departments have to check for them before repairing bridges. A new AI tool makes those inspections faster and more accurate.Tianshu Li, Research Assistant in Systems Engineering, University of VirginiaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1665172021-09-09T20:12:56Z2021-09-09T20:12:56ZHow urban soundscapes affect humans and wildlife — and what may have changed in the hush of lockdown<p>The dull roar of traffic, the barking of dogs in backyards and the screeching of cockatoos at dusk. The shattering of early morning quiet by the first plane overhead or the garbage truck on its rounds. The squealed delights and occasional fights of a children’s playground. </p>
<p>These sounds and many more create what Canadian composer R Murray Schafer famously called a “<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Soundscape/R-Murray-Schafer/9780892814558">soundscape</a>”. Schafer, who <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/23/arts/music/r-murray-schafer-dead.html">passed away last month</a>, helped us realise we experience cities with our ears as well as our eyes. </p>
<p>In recent years, studies have confirmed these soundscapes <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020393">affect the well-being of urban inhabitants</a> — both human and non-human. But with much of the country back under lockdown, urban soundscapes have changed, sometimes bringing delight, but sometimes causing new distress. </p>
<p>So let’s take a moment to consider how soundscapes influence our lives, and the lives of urban wildlife. </p>
<h2>When sounds become ‘noise’</h2>
<p>Whether it’s housemates, traffic, or construction, we tend to respond to many urban sounds by defining them as “noise”, and try to shut them out. We do this using a <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40726-018-0095-7">range of techniques and technologies</a>: building regulations on soundproofing, controls on the times for certain activities like construction, and planning measures. </p>
<p>But noise mapping efforts show <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40726-018-0095-7">such regulations tend to produce uneven urban soundscapes</a> — some people are more exposed to loud or annoying sounds than others.</p>
<p>Housing quality is a major factor here, and noise problems are likely exacerbated under lockdown. A <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/19491247.2021.1940686">recent study of pandemic housing inequality in Sydney</a> found increased exposure to noise during lockdown is significantly contributing to poor well-being. </p>
<p>For example, sounds travelling across internal and external walls <a href="https://theconversation.com/this-is-why-apartment-living-is-different-for-the-poor-82069">of apartments</a> were frequently a source of tension in pre-pandemic times. Now, with so many more people spending more time at home, these domestic sounds inevitably increase. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-reminds-us-how-liveable-neighbourhoods-matter-for-our-well-being-135806">Coronavirus reminds us how liveable neighbourhoods matter for our well-being</a>
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</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>It’s not just humans whose lives are disrupted by city noise, as many animals use sound to communicate. </p>
<p>The ever-vigilant New Holland honeyeaters of Australian cities <a href="https://soundcloud.com/alziell/the-aerial-hawkalarm-call-of-a-new-holland-honeyeater-bigic">use their alarm calls</a> to warn their friends and neighbours of danger, while the <a href="https://theconversation.com/clicks-bonks-and-dripping-taps-listen-to-the-calls-of-6-frogs-out-and-about-this-summer-150084">iconic chorus of banjo frogs</a> in wetlands are the hopeful calls of males seeking mates. </p>
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<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PscvK2xs8t8?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">This is the sound a banjo frog makes.</span></figcaption>
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<p>Noisy environments can dramatically change <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-noise-pollution-is-changing-animal-behaviour-52339">how these animals behave</a>. In some cases, animals adapt to their noisy environment. Some frogs, for example, overcome traffic noise disrupting their sex lives by <a href="https://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol14/iss1/art25/">calling at a higher pitch</a>. Likewise, populations of bow-winged grasshoppers in Germany exposed to road noise <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1365-2435.12215">sing at higher frequencies</a> than those living in quieter areas. </p>
<p>For other animals, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749119365546">such as microbats in England</a>, disruptive noise changes how they forage and move around their environments. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-noise-pollution-is-changing-animal-behaviour-52339">How noise pollution is changing animal behaviour</a>
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</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>In extreme cases, these human-associated noises can drive animals away from their homes, as the disruptions to their lives becomes untenable. </p>
<p><a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2011.0529">Urban black-tufted marmosets in Brazil</a> have been shown to avoid areas with abundant food where noise may interfere with their vocal communication. And research shows intruding noise in <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2013.2290">stopovers for migratory birds in the United States</a> reduces their diversity by 25%, with some species avoiding the stopovers altogether. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420181/original/file-20210909-13-18n1ola.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420181/original/file-20210909-13-18n1ola.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420181/original/file-20210909-13-18n1ola.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420181/original/file-20210909-13-18n1ola.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420181/original/file-20210909-13-18n1ola.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420181/original/file-20210909-13-18n1ola.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420181/original/file-20210909-13-18n1ola.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420181/original/file-20210909-13-18n1ola.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Black-tufted marmosets in Brazil avoid noisy habitats even when there’s plenty of food.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>A new quiet?</h2>
<p>The soundscape of cities in lockdown <a href="https://theconversation.com/this-is-what-lockdown-sounds-like-153590">can be dramatically different from</a> what we have come to accept as normal. </p>
<p>First, there are new noises. For example, in Sydney’s areas of concern subject to tighter lockdown restrictions, people are living with the frequent intrusive noise of police helicopters patrolling their neighbourhoods, making announcements over loudspeakers about compliance.</p>
<p>But in other cases, as our movements and activities are restricted, some city sounds associated with a negative impact on well-being are <a href="https://theconversation.com/this-is-what-lockdown-sounds-like-153590">significantly reduced</a>. People who live near major roads, aircraft flight paths, or construction sites will certainly be noticing the quiet as road traffic is greatly reduced and non-essential construction is paused. </p>
<p>But of course, while this silence might be golden for some, for others the sound of silence is the sound of lost work and income. This quietude may even be considered as unwelcome or even eerie — the sonic signature of isolation, confinement and loss.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420180/original/file-20210909-26-wumsbi.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420180/original/file-20210909-26-wumsbi.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420180/original/file-20210909-26-wumsbi.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=436&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420180/original/file-20210909-26-wumsbi.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=436&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420180/original/file-20210909-26-wumsbi.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=436&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420180/original/file-20210909-26-wumsbi.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=548&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420180/original/file-20210909-26-wumsbi.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=548&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420180/original/file-20210909-26-wumsbi.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=548&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The bow-winged grasshopper adapts to noisy soundscapes by singing at higher frequencies.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Quartl/Wikimedia</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Just as many animals adapt to or avoid noisy urban environments, there is a chance many will respond to this <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02092-7">natural experiment playing out</a>. Quieter urban environments may see the return of some of our more noise sensitive species, but this depends on the species. </p>
<p>The <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2011.0529">Brazilian marmosets mentioned earlier</a> didn’t return to those locations even during quieter times, suggesting the noise left a disruptive legacy on their habitat choice, well after it was experienced. On the other hand, other experiments show <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2013.2290">some species of birds</a> rapidly returned to sites after noise was removed from the landscape.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/birdwatching-increased-tenfold-last-lockdown-dont-stop-its-a-huge-help-for-bushfire-recovery-141970">Birdwatching increased tenfold last lockdown. Don't stop, it's a huge help for bushfire recovery</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>While it’s too early to confirm any <a href="https://theconversation.com/where-the-wild-things-are-how-nature-might-respond-as-coronavirus-keeps-humans-indoors-134543">early speculation</a> about nature returning to quieter urban environments during lockdown, there is compelling evidence many people will <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23748834.2020.1795385">benefit from engaging with local nature</a> more actively than they did before. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420178/original/file-20210909-22-y7zbex.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420178/original/file-20210909-22-y7zbex.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420178/original/file-20210909-22-y7zbex.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=337&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420178/original/file-20210909-22-y7zbex.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=337&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420178/original/file-20210909-22-y7zbex.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=337&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420178/original/file-20210909-22-y7zbex.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420178/original/file-20210909-22-y7zbex.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420178/original/file-20210909-22-y7zbex.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Birdwatching increased tenfold in lockdown last year.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Matthew Willimott/Unsplash</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Many more Australians are acting as <a href="https://www.urbanfieldnaturalist.org/">urban field naturalists</a>. Birdwatching, for example, <a href="https://theconversation.com/birdwatching-increased-tenfold-last-lockdown-dont-stop-its-a-huge-help-for-bushfire-recovery-141970">increased tenfold</a> in lockdown last year. </p>
<p>It’s clear people are seeing novelty and wonder in animals and plants that have survived and even thrived in our cities right beneath our noses the whole time. Our <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pan3.10218">increased use of local greenspace</a> during the pandemic has created new opportunities to find the extraordinary in the ordinary.</p>
<h2>Rethinking post-pandemic soundscapes</h2>
<p>What might we learn from this natural experiment about the soundscapes we take for granted and the soundscapes we actually want? </p>
<p>This is an invitation to think about whether we ought to do more to control sounds we consider “noise”. Yes, decibel levels of activities like car and air traffic matter. But it’s also <a href="https://apo.org.au/node/178696">an opportunity to think beyond controlling sounds</a>, and consider how we might create soundscapes to enhance human and non-human well-being. This is easier said than done, given there’s no universal measure of what sounds give pleasure and what sounds are perceived as noise. </p>
<p>This aligns with the <a href="https://environmentalevidencejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13750-020-00202-y">growing body of evidence</a> on the need to reduce noise pollution and protect biodiversity when planning and managing our cities. </p>
<p>Like just about every other dimension of urban life, envisioning and creating an improved urban soundscape requires <a href="https://www.redglobepress.com//page/detail/Planning-and-Diversity-in-the-City/?K=9781403938107">careful attention</a> to spatial inequality and diversity - including of species - and a capacity to work through our differences in a fair and just way.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/where-the-wild-things-are-how-nature-might-respond-as-coronavirus-keeps-humans-indoors-134543">Where the wild things are: how nature might respond as coronavirus keeps humans indoors</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/166517/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Dieter Hochuli receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the City of Sydney and the Inner West Council.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Kurt Iveson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Soundscapes impact the well-being of human and non-human urban inhabitants. Here’s how noise can change animal behaviour, both in and out of lockdown.Kurt Iveson, Associate Professor of Urban Geography and Research Lead, Sydney Policy Lab, University of SydneyDieter Hochuli, Professor, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1554792021-02-28T19:06:11Z2021-02-28T19:06:11ZLook up! A powerful owl could be sleeping in your backyard after a night surveying kilometres of territory<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/386611/original/file-20210226-19-fbdwna.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C29%2C3976%2C2964&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Nick Bradsworth</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Picture this: you’re in your backyard gardening when you get that strange, ominous feeling of being watched. You find a grey oval-shaped ball about the size of a thumb, filled with bones and fur — a pellet, or “owl vomit”. </p>
<p>You look up and see the bright “surprised” eyes of a powerful owl staring back at you, with half a possum in its talons. </p>
<p>This may be becoming a familiar story for many Australians. We strapped tracking devices to 20 powerful owls in Melbourne for our <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01494">new research</a>, and learned these apex predators are increasingly choosing to sleep in urban areas, from backyard trees to city parks.</p>
<p>These respite areas are critical for species to survive in challenging urban environments because, just like for humans, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2008.02.001">rest is an essential behaviour</a> to conserve energy for the day (or night) ahead. </p>
<p>Our research highlights the importance of trees on both public and private land for wild animals. Without an understanding of where urban wildlife rests, we risk damaging these urban habitats with encroaching development. </p>
<h2>One owl, one year, 300 possums</h2>
<p>Powerful owls are Australia’s largest, measuring 65 centimetres from head to tail and weighing a hefty 1.6 kilograms. They’re found in Australia’s <a href="https://www.birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/powerful-owl">eastern states</a>, except for Tasmania.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Powerful owl with half a common ringtail possum" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/386597/original/file-20210226-15-1w0mjri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/386597/original/file-20210226-15-1w0mjri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/386597/original/file-20210226-15-1w0mjri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/386597/original/file-20210226-15-1w0mjri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/386597/original/file-20210226-15-1w0mjri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/386597/original/file-20210226-15-1w0mjri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/386597/original/file-20210226-15-1w0mjri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Powerful owl at roost with half a common ringtail possum (probably saving it for later).</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Nick Bradsworth</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>These owls have <a href="https://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=US201300483075">traditionally been thought</a> to live only in large old-growth forested areas. However, Victoria has lost over <a href="https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/32882/Powerful_Owl_Ninox_strenua.pdf">65% of forest cover</a> since European settlement, and because of this habitat loss, the owls are <a href="https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/conserving-threatened-species/threatened-list">listed as threatened in Victoria</a>.</p>
<p>Their remaining habitat is extremely fragmented. This means we’re finding owls in interesting places — from <a href="https://doi.org/10.1071/MU06055">dry, open woodland</a> to our major east coast cities. This is likely <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/238069344_Conservation_management_and_diets_of_powerful_owls_Ninox_strenua_in_outer_urban_Melbourne_Australia">due to the high numbers of prey</a>, such as possums, that thrive alongside exotic garden trees and house roofs. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/dont-disturb-the-cockatoos-on-your-lawn-theyre-probably-doing-all-your-weeding-for-free-154265">Don't disturb the cockatoos on your lawn, they're probably doing all your weeding for free</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Powerful owls usually eat one possum per night, or 250-300 possums per year — mostly <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/wr/WR05058">common ringtail and brushtail possums</a> in Melbourne. They’re often <a href="https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article/95/2/284/2701136">seen holding prey at their roosting spots</a>, where they’ll finish eating in the evening for breakfast. </p>
<p>This has <a href="http://doi.org/10.1126/science.1241484">ecosystem-wide benefits</a>, as powerful owls can help keep overabundant possums in check. Too many possums can strip away vegetation, causing it to die back, which stops other wildlife from nesting or finding shelter.</p>
<h2>Tracking their nocturnal haunts</h2>
<p>But powerful owls are extremely <a href="http://doi.org/10.1071/WR16185">elusive</a>. With low populations, locating owls and researching their requirements is very difficult. </p>
<p>So, to help narrow down the general areas where powerful owls live in Melbourne, we used <a href="http://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2017.06.039">species distribution models</a> and sought help from land management agencies and <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-rise-of-citizen-science-is-great-news-for-our-native-wildlife-63866">citizen scientists</a>.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1288698610473791488"}"></div></p>
<p>Over five years, we deployed GPS devices on 20 Melburnian owls to find how they use urban environments. These devices automatically record where the owls move at night and rest during the day.</p>
<p>We learned they fly, on average, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00532">4.4 kilometers per night</a> through golf courses, farms, reserves and backyards looking for dinner and defending their territory. One owl along the Mornington Peninsula travelled 47 km over two nights (possibly in search of a mate). Another urban owl called several golf courses in the Melbourne suburb of Alphington home.</p>
<h2>Choosing where to sleep</h2>
<p>After their nightly adventures, the owls usually return to a number of regular roosting (resting) spots, sometimes on the exact same branch. The powerful owl chooses roosts that protect them against being mobbed by aggressive daytime birds, such as the noisy miner and pied currawong. </p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2zVOLwtvuLc?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">A powerful owl showing defensive behaviour towards nearby pied currawongs trying to mob it.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We found the owls used 32 different tree species to roost in: 23 were native, and nine were exotic, including pine and willow trees. This shows powerful owls can adapt to use a range of species to fit their roosting requirements, such as thick foliage to hide in during the day. </p>
<p>Owls will <a href="http://dro.deakin.edu.au/view/DU:30001535">generally roost</a> in damp, dark areas during summer, and in open roosts in full or dappled sunlight during winter to help regulate their body temperature.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/urban-owls-are-losing-their-homes-so-were-3d-printing-them-new-ones-133626">Urban owls are losing their homes. So we're 3D printing them new ones</a>
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</p>
<hr>
<p>Our research also shows rivers in urban environments are just as important as trees for roosting habitat. </p>
<p><a href="http://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2006.01.006">Rivers are naturally home</a> to a diverse range of wildlife. Using trees near rivers to rest in may be a strategic decision to reduce time and energy when travelling at night to find other resources, such as prey, mates and nests. </p>
<p>Rivers that constantly flow, such as the Yarra River, are a particular favourite for the owls.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A powerful owl surrounded by leaves" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/385198/original/file-20210219-18-so6i8j.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/385198/original/file-20210219-18-so6i8j.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385198/original/file-20210219-18-so6i8j.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385198/original/file-20210219-18-so6i8j.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385198/original/file-20210219-18-so6i8j.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385198/original/file-20210219-18-so6i8j.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385198/original/file-20210219-18-so6i8j.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Powerful owl at roost among dense <em>Kunzea</em> vegetation.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Nick Bradsworth</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>The urban roost risk</h2>
<p>These resting habitats, however, are under constant pressure by urban expansion and agriculture. Suitable roosting habitat is either removed, or degraded in quality and converted to housing, roads, grass cover or bare soil.</p>
<p>We found potentially suitable roosting habitat in Melbourne is extremely fragmented, covering just 10% of the landscape because owls are very selective about where they sleep. </p>
<p>Although there might be the odd suitable patch (or tree) to roost in urban environments, what’s often lacking is natural connectivity between patches. While owls are nocturnal, they still need places to rest in the night before they settle down in another spot to sleep for the day. </p>
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<img alt="A pair of powerful owls with beady eyes sitting at their roost" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/385197/original/file-20210219-16-1vxiszg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/385197/original/file-20210219-16-1vxiszg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385197/original/file-20210219-16-1vxiszg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385197/original/file-20210219-16-1vxiszg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385197/original/file-20210219-16-1vxiszg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385197/original/file-20210219-16-1vxiszg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385197/original/file-20210219-16-1vxiszg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">The classic ‘surprised’ powerful owl expression at a roost.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Nick Bradsworth</span></span>
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<p>Supplementing habitat with more trees on private property and enhancing the quality of habitat along river systems may encourage owls to roost in other areas of Melbourne.</p>
<p>Powerful owls don’t discriminate between private land and reserves for roosting. So conserving and enhancing resting habitats on public and private land will enable urban wildlife to persist alongside expanding and intensifying urbanisation. </p>
<h2>So what can you do to help?</h2>
<p>If you want powerful owls to roost in your backyard, visit your local indigenous nursery and ask about trees local to your area. </p>
<p>Several favourite roost trees in Melbourne include many Eucalyptus species and wattles. If you don’t have the space for a large tree, they will also roost in the shorter, dense <em>Kunzea</em> and swamp paperbark (<em>Melaleuca ericifolia</em>).</p>
<p>Planting them will provide additional habitat and, if you are lucky, your neighbourhood owls may even decide to settle in for the day and have a snooze.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/hard-to-spot-but-worth-looking-out-for-8-surprising-tawny-frogmouth-facts-146484">Hard to spot, but worth looking out for: 8 surprising tawny frogmouth facts</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/155479/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Nick Bradsworth is a member of BirdLife Australia.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>John White and Raylene Cooke do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Researchers strapped tracking devices to 20 powerful owls in Melbourne and learned these apex predators are increasingly choosing to sleep in urban areas, from backyard trees to golf courses.Nick Bradsworth, PhD Candidate, Deakin UniversityJohn White, Associate Professor in Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Deakin UniversityRaylene Cooke, Associate Professor, Deakin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.