Protecting Keystone Species in Urban Areas

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The management of wildlife can be a hot topic of debate between groups with different ideas, methods, and end goals. It has many moving parts and requires a wide range of specialists to make informed decisions. Keystone Wildlife Coalition (KWC) is based in rural Montana where there is a close relationship between humans and wildlife. There are theories around wildlife management called Best Management Practices (BMPs), and the BMPs utilized in rural areas can be completely different than those utilized in urban areas. As an Environmental Scientist who was born and raised in a large city I find myself intrigued by urban practices and its challenges.

Urban areas present a unique set of difficulties when it comes to wildlife. Cities are designed solely for human use and habitation. Which often works out well for us, but we fail to take into consideration the presence and needs of the other animals that already reside within the city limits. This presents officials with difficult coexistence issues to handle.

For example, let's imagine a large city with a highway that takes commuters to nearby suburbs and smaller towns further away from the city center. On either side of this highway there are undeveloped prairies and dense woodlands, where most of the wildlife population in the region typically reside. Over time, city officials noticed that there is a large amount of traffic accidents involving wildlife, such as coyotes, occurring on this stretch of highway which have caused severe injuries and even death in some cases. Upon further investigation, officials learn that the coyote population has decreased significantly. This decrease in the coyote population size is directly related to the sharp increase in the populations of skunks and raccoons that local residents  have been complaining about.

 In search of a solution to this problem, the city looks towards their environmental division and state wildlife experts to help. These experts determine that the coyotes are forced to cross the highway in search of clean water. The wildlife populations used to go to water sources located in the dense woodlands, but that water has been reduced and polluted by a nearby industry. The city determines the best way to help both their human and animal residents is to build a wildlife corridor (such as a bridge) over the highway, expand access to and clean up the polluted waterway, and add signs to the highway alerting drivers of the nearby wildlife.

From this example, we have explored the main challenges faced in urban wildlife management which are fragmentation, habitat loss, and pollution. Let’s expand on what these mean. Fragmentation is the breaking up of natural habitats for wildlife into smaller pieces or fragments. In this case, the highway is fragmenting, or separating, the dense woodlands from the undeveloped prairies. While habitat loss happens when natural habitats are converted to other uses, usually focused on human interests. In this case, the edge of our dense woods had a water source that was reduced and polluted, or contaminated, by the nearby industry. The city’s solution to this problem directly addressed each of the three main issues identified by experts.

Conversation around keystone species preservation and conservation are often heavily focused on rural wildlife. While this is incredibly important, I believe there needs to be greater discussion on the issue’s wildlife face in urban areas and how we can best manage wildlife in these areas. Here at Keystone Wildlife Coalition we seek to protect keystone species and educate the public about the issues they face in all parts of the country. So, whether you live in a big city or a small town, you can make a difference in the preservation and protection of keystone species. Donate today at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/af882f42-a723-4f99-8b4d-936870b6868c

Emily Manner

Treasurer, Keystone Wildlife Coalition