Human–Wildlife Interactions Monographs

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  Toolkit to Address Free-ranging Domestic Cats on Agency Lands Managed for Native Wildlife and Ecosystem Health

  Sara H. Schweitzer and Colin M. Gillin

  Native flora and fauna of North America face numerous threats, and impacts from invasive species are some of the most challenging. Free-ranging domestic cats (Felis catus) are extremely harmful to wildlife and the environment. The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) developed a toolkit to provide guidance to fish and wildlife agencies as they address free-ranging domestic cats on agency lands managed for native wildlife and ecosystem health. Topics in this document include wildlife conservation, infectious diseases, legal issues, education and outreach, human dimensions, partnerships, management strategies, and model regulatory and legal language. This toolkit is not intended to be prescriptive or to mandate any actions by agencies at the state, federal, tribal, or territorial level. Instead, this document should be regarded as a set of recommendations for agencies and other landowners to consider as they develop or revise their own programs.

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  Methods for Managing Human–Deer Conflicts in Urban, Suburban, and Exurban Areas

  Geoff D. Westerfield, Justin M. Shannon, Orrin V. Duvuvuei, Thomas A. Decker, Nathan P. Snow, Erin D. Shank, Brian F. Wakeling, and H. Bryant White

  This monograph identifies challenges and benefits associated with many human–deer conflict mitigation actions as well as methods to monitor the response of deer populations to management actions. Deer exploit urban, suburban, and exurban areas where human populations provide anthropogenic attractants, either intentionally or inadvertently, which often leads to human–deer conflicts. Mitigating actions have varying degrees of efficacy and may not be effective or accepted in every situation. Wildlife and municipal managers must work together to seek methods to reduce attractants, mitigate conflicts, and perpetuate the conservation of wildlife species that adds to the appreciation of nature in our lives.

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  Human–Black Bear Conflicts: A Review of Common Management Practices

  Carl W. Lackey, Stewart W. Breck, Brian F. Wakeling, and H. Bryant White

  The objective of this monograph is to provide wildlife professionals, who respond to human–bear conflicts, with an appraisal of the most common techniques used for mitigating conflicts as well as the benefits and challenges of each technique in a single document. Most human–black bear conflict occurs when people make anthropogenic foods like garbage, dog food, domestic poultry, or fruit trees available to bears. Bears change their behavior to take advantage of these resources and may damage property or cause public safety concerns in the process. Managers and the public need to understand the available tools to stop human–bear conflict and reduce effects on bear populations.

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  Managing Wild Pigs: A Technical Guide

  Ben C. West, Andrea L. Cooper, and James B. Armstrong

  Wild pigs are and will continue to be a challenging problem for wildlife managers, landowners, farmers, conservationists, and others. Despite ongoing control programs, wild pigs have increased both their range and population size. Because of this growth, wildlife managers will increasingly be involved in dealing with problems caused by wild pigs traditionally, as well as emerging problems such as landscaping damage in suburban areas. Successful management strategies will depend upon persistent, adaptive, and integrated management programs that incorporate sound biological and ecological information. An integrated management approach, in addition to addressing the biological and ecological aspects of wild pigs, will seek to engage stakeholders via comprehensive education and communication programs. We hope this guide can be a valuable tool in that crucial task.