This short article from SF gate about a black bear in Nipomo, CA caught my attention as I lived in San Luis Obispo County for a couple years and never once saw a bear or mountain lion. Over the past few months, coyote and mountain lion sightings, and more recently black bears, have been on the rise and human-animal conflicts are too. So why are there all these normally illusive animals just now showing up around town and causing a ruckus?
The main reason, other than further human encroachment on their territories, is the drought. This has been a huge problem down here in Southern California, and the West Coast in general, because with the dry weather has come an early wildlife season. Just as fires create frightening situations for us humans the same applies to our beautiful wildlife. This is the time of the year where nests are being made and babies are being born and parents are getting pressed to provide their young with food and water and safe shelter. With our ever shrinking natural water supplies, wild animals must travel further to gain access to water which we have directed to our own homes...therefore, wild animals in or around our homes.
So what do we do? Let coyotes snag our house cats? Watch our beautiful birds disappear? Preferably not. For all of you fellow nature lovers, coexistence and safety are what we aim for so...
Some things to remember during drought weather:
- Do Not Handle Wildlife: If you stumble upon wildlife, especially large mammals and avian species, do not attempt to handle them as high temperatures and water shortages are a breeding ground for certain diseases including botulism and cholera. Call your local animal services, wildlife hospital or humane society if you need assistance with wildlife in your neighborhood and keep your pets and their food inside. Try not to panic if you come across wildlife as they are mostly wary of humans, leave them alone and they should leave you alone too.
- Do Expect Increased Predation Events: Unfortunately, drought means animals are going to become gradually more desperate. This sucks for them and for us because they will come around for hand outs and become more aggressive. The only thing we can do is be understanding and careful as coexistence is the goal here. Don't leave your trash accessible (bring it in or lock it up), bring all pets and their food inside especially at night, reinforce garden fencing and don't wait too long to harvest. While this sounds like a pain in the @$$, it simply requires a little extra prep and vigilance, I promise it will be worth it in the end.
- Consider Xeriscaping: This means using plants in your yard which are drought tolerant and in California, that means using native plants. This is a solution which also takes prep but is possible using this 7-step system. Not only will you save money on your water bill but you will also provide habitat for local species, mostly birds and small mammals. Providing for these smaller animals means providing for the larger ones. The downside to this is you might encounter more large mammals...see above.
- Volunteer: Crises like drought and fire are extremely detrimental to wildlife and they suffer just as much as we do. If this is something that concerns you then please consider volunteering with your local wildlife rehabilitation hospital or humane society or donate to these agencies. Orphaned and injured wildlife need our help to return to the wild and this is a great opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation for wildlife and their importance in our lives. Here is a list of rehabbers in California.
Unfortunately our options pretty much stop there. Drought is a condition exacerbated by climate change and at this point all we can do is learn to cope, humans and animals alike. While it's frightening to think we could encounter large predators in our own neighborhoods, I encourage you to think of it as an opportunity to embrace rare interactions with wildlife and learn about the secret living world around you. For decades it's been a common mindset that wildlife is unnecessary and a nuisance to our existence but we are now finding out how much we rely on healthy ecosystems. There is so much we can learn and gain from appreciating wildlife and now is a better time than any to do just that!
Have a great night!!
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