Urban Wildlife—Our Wild Neighbors | The Humane Society of the United States

	Urban Wildlife—Our Wild Neighbors

Wild Neighbors

What's in Season: Take the Backyard Challenge		Resolve Conflicts with Wildlife

Solve Problems with Deer		Found an Orphaned or Injured Animal?

As urban development encroaches on previously untamed areas, more human-wildlife conflicts result. People are frequently confronted with many wildlife species, including deer, raccoons, woodchucks, squirrels, beavers and a variety of birds.

These animals have largely managed to adapt well to our presence. Humans, on the other hand, are still mastering this living arrangement. Many people understand the need for effective, lasting, and humane solutions to occasional conflicts with wildlife—mostly because these people enjoy wildlife and want wild animals as neighbors—but many people also employ inappropriate and environmentally irresponsible "solutions" to human-wildlife conflicts.

To counter this problem, The HSUS administers Wild Neighbors™, our Urban Wildlife Program. The program promotes nonlethal means for resolving conflicts between wildlife and humans—making this the rule, not the exception—and cultivates an understanding and appreciation for those wildlife species commonly found in cities and towns. The HSUS works with individuals and communities nationwide to promote nonlethal strategies.

Wild Neighbors™ also celebrates the positive side of urban wildlife through our Urban Wildlife Sanctuary Program (UWSP). This program gives individuals and communities an opportunity to assess and improve their property's usefulness as wildlife habitat, providing them with educational materials on habitat creation and restoration, including the award-winning newsletter, Wild Neighbors News.

	At Summer's End: Helping Wildlife Survive Cold Weather Beyond setting out feeders for birds and small mammals, there are many things you can do in your back yard to help wild animals survive harsh weather conditions. more

	Brush Piles 101 Creating a brush pile in your yard provides safe cover for ground-nesting birds and other small creatures. more

	Civil War or Civility: How to Live with Urban Coyotes An adaptable survivor, the coyote is quickly becoming an urban and suburban dweller. A few safeguards can make this animal a fairly safe neighbor. more

	Connecticut Field Office The HSUS Connecticut Field Office administers our wildlife hotline, which provides advice and assists constituents with resolving wildlife conflicts. more

	Don't Trash Wildlife One human's trash is a wild amimal's delicacy. Take care to dispose of containers and plastic wrap responsibly. more

	Eastern Box Turtle Regional Conservation Workshop Summary A summary of a workshop held in September 2004 on the conservation of the eastern box turtle. more

	Feeding Birds in Winter Feeding birds in the winter months gives you a chance to observe wild birds at close range. Here are some tips for winter bird feeding. more

	Found an Injured or Orphaned Animal? Think you have found an injured or orphaned animal? Before "rescuing" the animal, immediately call a local resource for assistance. more

	Gardens and Wildlife: Making Everybody Happy Conflicts with wildlife in gardens can be resolved by anticipating or catching damage early, or simply by sharing the wealth with your wild neighbors. more

	Guide to Retail Sources for Products to Resolve Wildlife Conflicts This comprehensive resource lists manufacturers and suppliers of products used to humanely resolve conflicts with wildlife. more

	Help Migratory Birds in Your Own Backyard Here are some ways to make your community a more welcome stopover for migratory birds. more

	Human-Beaver Conflicts in Massachusetts: Assessing the Debate Over Question One In 1996, a majority (64%) of Massachusetts citizens voted to restrict the use of certain traps on wildlife. Read the recently released report addressing the ongoing concerns over how the Massachusetts Division of Wildlife and Fisheries has responded to the passage of this publicly supported mandate. more

	Humane Wildlife Services Humane Wildlife Solutions provides non-lethal solutions to conflicts between humans and animals. more

	If You Love Wildlife, Keep Your Cat Inside It's better for wildlife, and for felines, if domestic cats are kept safely inside their homes. more

	If You See a Turtle in the Road What should you do if you see a turtle in the road? Safely help him get where he was going. And don't give in to the temptation to make the turtle a pet. more

	Model Guidelines for Nuisance Wildlife Control The HSUS has written model state legislation intended to improve the regulation and oversight of the urban wildlife control industry. more

	Owls in Our Midst With a fossil record 66 million years long, owls are one of the oldest groups of living birds. Get to know this ancient symbol of wisdom. more

	Rabies & Wildlife The mention of rabies still causes alarm and exaggerated fears among many people, but the truth is that the virus presents much less of a danger to humans now than ever before. more

	Raising Rabbits: A Wildlife Rehabilitator's Journal A licensed wildlife rehabilitator, documents caring for baby rabbits whose nest was destroyed. more

	Sanctuary in the City Urban Wildlife Sanctuary Program member Iris Rothman shares her small city property with wild creatures of all shapes and sizes. more

	Scrap the Trap When Evicting Raccoons, Skunks, Other Wildlife Think live-trapping and relocating an animal is a humane solution to a wildlife problem? It's actually anything but kind. more

	Solving Problems with Your Wild Neighbors Our extensive information on solving conflicts with the many different wild animals you may encounter in urban or suburban settings is a resource for every humane household. more

	The Education of Genghis Swan Thanks to the town's decision to use non-lethal methods, HSUS staffers are conditioning an overly aggressive swan in Plymouth, Massachusetts, to be wary of people and boats. more

	The Humane Approach to Human-Wildlife Conflicts Even the city has its share of wildlife, and HSUS provides strategies on how humans can live harmoniously and humanely with their wild neighbors. more

	The Mysteries of Migration One of the most impressive feats in nature is the ability of birds to travel hundreds of miles to distant lands where they breed and spend the winter. Learn more. more

	To Feed or Not to Feed Wildlife? Feeding wildlife often causes more harm than good. more

	Urban Canada Geese Onced considered nearly extinct, Canada geese have increased in such large numbers that urban communities are now turning against them. more

	West Nile Virus Since it hit North America in 1999, the West Nile virus has spread to 44 states and has been found in more than 100 bird species as well as in horses and other animals. more

	Wildlife Myths: How Well Do You Know Your Neighbors? Here are ten popular myth--and facts--about our wild neighbors. more

	Wildlife Tracking Basics Learning about wild animals from the tracks they leave behind is an enjoyable pastime and a useful skill. more

	Winterize with Wildlife in Mind Here are ten tips for preventing wild animals from moving into your warm house during the cold winter months. more