help for dealing with wildlife

Whether it’s moles in the lawn, squirrels in the attic, or coyotes terrorizing a neighborhood, a new online resource gives consumers instant access to research-based solutions for helping humans and wildlife coexist.

The eXtension Wildlife Damage Management Web site puts a wealth of information directly on consumers’ computer screens. It’s a useful resource for anyone needing information about managing wildlife problems that linkspeople who need information with the experts who have it. To take full advantage of the site, register at http://www.extension.org and choose "Wildlife Damage Management."

"People need to understand how to resolve or manage problems caused by wildlife with solutions that are humane, ecologically sensitive and responsible, and economically viable. This site is developed to do just that,” said Robert Schmidt, associate professor and certified wildlife biologist at Utah State University.

The eXtension Wildlife Damage Management Web site has been developed through the collaboration of nationally recognized wildlife biologists, nuisance wildlife control operators, educators and people interested in the field of human-wildlife relations.

“The backbone of our site is a series of illustrated pages on 65 wildlife species that cause damage or nuisance problems in North America. We included everything from alligators to polar bears. For each species, you can easily navigate through life histories, behavior, damage identification, economics, legal issues, and a complete list of methods for managing wildlife damage,” said Scott Hygnstrom, professor and extension wildlife damage specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The eXtension Wildlife Damage Management Web site also offers:

• Frequently Asked Questions, which allows users to submit queries about wildlife management.

• Ask the Expert provides an answer to questions not already available in the Frequently Asked Questions section with a usual response within 24 hours.

• News and Upcoming Events keeps the news and calendar of events current at the local, state and national levels.

• Glossary and Diseases list terms and illnesses that are commonly found in wildlife damage management.

“While many sites say this or that technique works, eXtension provides what actually works and it does all this for free. With the public's growing environmental awareness, the need for quality information is more important than ever. Thankfully, eXtension accomplishes this by providing its information 24/7/365,” said Stephen Vantassel, nationally certified wildlife control operator and project coordinator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

eXtension is an educational partnership of more than 70 land-grant universities helping Americans improve their lives with access to timely, objective, research-based information and educational opportunities. eXtension's interactive Web site, http://www.extension.org is customized with links to local Cooperative Extension Web sites. Land-grant universities were founded on the ideals that higher education should be accessible to all, that the university should teach liberal and practical subjects and share the university's knowledge with people throughout their states.

Photo credits: Chipmunk and groundhog photos/Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources
Geese: Dreamstime.com

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