Wisconsin Wildlife Update: Snowy Owls And More

Featured in this Show

• Ecologists: Wildlife In Urban Environments Is On The Rise

  Download

  From the flock of wild turkeys that has taken up residence on Madison’s near East Side to the foxes, coyotes, deer, geese and crows frequently spotted in cities and suburban areas, urban wildlife is on the rise.

  “It’s really fun to have that wildlife, and have those close encounters, and be able to enjoy seeing them,” said Jamie Nack, a wildlife outreach specialist in the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

  David Drake, a wildlife specialist with UW Extension and associate professor of forest and wildlife ecology, said that there are several species that have emerged as particularly skilled at living close to humans. One of the most adept is the turkey.

  Drake said that a generation ago, wildlife programs taught that turkeys needed a large, unbroken tract of mixed forest and open habitat to thrive. But that thinking has changed, he said. While living in an urban area can involve risks, like navigating traffic, Drake said that turkeys also benefit from being around humans.

  “There are a lot of wonderful resources for the turkeys,” he said. “They get a lot of food here, and there’s some safety from predators. So, they’ve got a pretty good life in these human-dominated landscapes.”

  Just because animals like turkeys live comfortably around people doesn’t mean humans shouldn’t take precautions around them. Drake said that especially in the spring when the males, or toms, are “surging with hormones” and looking for a mate, they can be aggressive.

  “They seem to take a lot of their aggression out on mail carriers in particular,” Drake said.

  In general, it’s important to know what to do during such close encounters, for the sake of both human and animal safety.

  Unfortunately, there are people who may not understand that animals common in an urban area are still wild, Drake said. That can lead to a lack of caution when encountering an animal. Drake said that another common reaction that stems from a lack of familiarity with wildlife is fear, or a desire to control or eradicate the unexpected animal.

  Urban residents nevertheless have the power to keep wildlife safe, Drake said. For example, collisions with vehicles are a major danger for many animals, he said. Being aware when driving near an area that could be desirable wildlife habitat can help improve animal safety.

  Drake also warned that using rodenticides to control nuisance animals can ultimately poison predators like foxes and coyotes, or scavengers like crows.

  Even a small backyard can be turned into a supportive habitat for wildlife. Drake said that providing food, water and shelter can lead to great animal sightings close to home.

  The state Department of Natural Resources has a range of information about living with urban wildlife available.