Living in the city today takes more than street or book smarts, it also takes "animal smarts". Many urban children no longer spend time exploring and learning about their outdoor environments and lack an understanding of animals that are found in the city. Here are some basic wildlife guidelines that will help all of us develop our "animal smarts".
- No animal will bite without a reason. There is a common fear that wild animals will bite just because you're there. Animals bite when they feel threatened. Think about the last time you saw a snake. You probably saw its back end fleeing you as fast as it could! Most animal bites occur as a response to human behavior.
- Animals do not want to hurt people. Defense and fighting takes energy. It would make no sense for them to waste energy on an unsolicited attack, when it needs that energy to find food.
- Feeding wildlife does not help them. Inappropriate food, which can make animals sick and interfere with their healthy development. Bread, french fries, chips and crackers are not good for ANY type of animal. Feeding also decreases an animal's fear of people. Most animal bites are related to wild animals being fed by people. Feeding encourages animals to congregate in unnaturally high numbers and attracts a variety of unintended animals to our yards, parks and neighborhoods.
- Wild animals don't want to make "friends". Relationships between animals of different species rarely happen in the wild, and when they do there is a specific need. For example coyotes will occasionally team up with badgers to hunt rabbits. Treating a wild animal like a pet is unnatural and confusing to the animal. Confused wildlife can feel threatened, which can lead to aggression.
- All animals have a job to do in an ecosystem. When we remove animals from an area in which they are naturally found, it often causes a break down in the balance of that ecosystem. For example, we often see increases in rodent populations when foxes are removed from an area. Then at least one new animal will move in to use and compete for the resources that supported the first. Resources will never go unused and territory is always needed.
- The city IS the natural habitat for our urban wildlife. There is a concentration of resources in our city. We have abundant water available, grow plants all year, we provide food from trash, compost, plant and tree growth and have ample shelter. Everything animals need to survive is right here and the most adaptable and intelligent animals around have made Denver their homes. There is no "back to the wild" - the wild is here.
If we respect and appreciate wildlife, learn about their needs and habits and incorporate what we know into our lifestyles, we can successfully share the resources of the city. Remember that just like people, animals are trying to live their lives, find food and shelter, and safely raise and teach their young the things they need to know to survive in today's world.
If you have any questions, please contact Ashley DeLaup at 303-455-0785.