Get to Know Your Bay Area Neighbors
It is more critical than ever that we, as humans, do what we can to ensure a healthy ecosystem and future for all wildlife on our planet. By working together, we can create shared habitats and a harmonious balance that allows people and wildlife to thrive.
A Healthy Ecosystem
Coexisting with wildlife fosters a safe living environment for people, and supports a healthy ecosystem for generations to come.
Predators hunting prey keep a healthy population ratio.
Scavengers eating dead animals help reduce disease risk.
Herbivores spread seeds and loosen soil, helping plants grow.
What Causes Conflict Between Humans and Wildlife?
Human-wildlife conflict occurs when the needs and behaviors of wildlife and people in a shared habitat are at odds with each other. This can lead to challenges that threaten the wellbeing of animals, people, and the ecosystem. The resulting conflict can take many forms, such as crop and livestock loss, retaliative killings of wildlife, car strikes, or a general misunderstanding of nature and wildlife.
How Can Humans and Wildlife Coexist Successfully?
As human populations expand further into wild spaces, the need for understanding, empathy, and behavior change is vital. Coexistence emphasizes strategies for peaceful conflict reduction techniques like non-lethal deterrents, wildlife corridors, and community-centered wildlife education. By promoting coexistence, we can reduce the total negative impacts of human-wildlife conflict and foster a world where wildlife is valued and protected alongside human needs.
From Conflict to Resolution
Not only do we feel it in our bones, but numerous scientific studies have shown the benefits to human happiness from being in nature and seeing wildlife. It is our responsibility for future generations to ensure there are healthy ecosystems where humans live alongside wildlife.
Learn
Get to know your Bay Area neighbors and learn how to live alongside them. The best coexistence solutions come from communities combining knowledge, science, and creativity.
Act
Take action by making your home and community coexistence friendly. Simple actions like the ones listed below can go a long way to building peaceful coexistence with our wild neighbors.
Thrive
Our empathy-based efforts create a global culture that values living alongside wildlife in our cities. Next time you are outside, take a moment to enjoy all the wildlife around you.
Be a Good Neighbor to Wildlife
Learn how to be a good neighbor to the wildlife around your home and in your city
Coexisting in the Bay Area
Human-wildlife conflict is a global challenge that shows up even in our own backyards and communities. Conflict in our region might look like wildlife making a mess of your trash, wildlife hurting or attacking pets, and wildlife getting sick from rodenticide. Here are some ways you can take action to coexist with our wild Bay Area neighbors and resolve these conflict issues.
Raccoon
Raccoons are naturally curious and inventive, using their dexterous hands to explore, solve problems, and adapt to changing environments. Their resourcefulness helps them coexist with people in shared...
Raccoons are naturally curious and inventive, using their dexterous hands to explore, solve problems, and adapt to changing environments. Their resourcefulness helps them coexist with people in shared spaces.
Coexisting with Raccoons
- Secure food waste and garbage in trash cans to prevent wildlife from rummaging for unhealthy human food and becoming habituated.
- Close off openings and crawlspaces around your home to avert wildlife seeking shelter.
- Offer a bird bath as an alternative to a bird feeder to avoid attracting unwanted wildlife.
Coyote
Coyotes are intelligent and adaptable, using their keen instincts to find food, communicate, and navigate human-dominated landscapes. Their resourcefulness allows them to thrive even as wild spaces become...
Coyotes are intelligent and adaptable, using their keen instincts to find food, communicate, and navigate human-dominated landscapes. Their resourcefulness allows them to thrive even as wild spaces become cities.
Coexisting with Coyotes
- Walk dogs on a leash especially at dawn and dusk when predators like coyotes are active for their safety and to protect wildlife.
- Keep a safe distance from wildlife to protect wildlife from stress or injury and to reduce the risk of harm to humans.
- Keep pet food inside to prevent coyotes and other wildlife from being drawn to your yard for an easy meal.
Mountain Lion
Mountain lions are masters of adaptation, moving seamlessly between deserts, forests, and foothills. Independent and adventurous, they thrive in diverse landscapes, often unnoticed by the humans who share...
Mountain lions are masters of adaptation, moving seamlessly between deserts, forests, and foothills. Independent and adventurous, they thrive in diverse landscapes, often unnoticed by the humans who share their space.
Coexisting with Mountain Lions
- Drive slowly in areas where wildlife crossroadways to prevent them from car strike as they move through their ecosystem.
- Choose alternative rodent traps over glue traps or rodenticide to stop wild predators and pets from eating poisoned rodents leading to sickness or death.
- Provide secure, enclosed shelters for animals that stay outside to prevent wild predators from harming your pets and livestock.
Black Bear
Black bears are open to all culinary experiences, drawn to new smells and flavors. Their curiosity makes them skilled foragers, and by securing our food, we can help...
Black bears are open to all culinary experiences, drawn to new smells and flavors. Their curiosity makes them skilled foragers, and by securing our food, we can help ensure a safe and respectful coexistence.
Coexisting with Black Bears
- Store food properly and dispose of the waste correctly to avoid wildlife from being attracted to human food and causing damage to property.
- Clean barbeque grills and picnic spaces after use to prevent scavengers like bears, raccoons, and rodents from being drawn to picnic areas by food scraps.
- Keep a safe distance from wildlife to keep wildlife from being stressed and to reduce the risk of injuries to you or them.
Oakland Zoo is Taking Action for Coexistence
Black-Crowned Night Heron
Oakland Zoo partners with downtown communities to protect our city bird, the black-crowned night heron, and promote coexistence. During nesting season, the Heron Response Team patrols near Lake Merritt, assists injured birds, and works with International Bird Rescue to rehabilitate and release them.
California Gray Wolf
Oakland Zoo supports innovative, community-based solutions to wolf-livestock conflict. Partnering with Working Circle, which connects rural and urban communities around sustainable ranching and predator conservation, we help Range Stewards work with ranchers to prevent predation and protect cattle.
African Lions
Oakland Zoo believes lion conservation depends on the leadership of people living alongside these predators. In partnership with New Nature Foundation, we’re creating a lion-focused alliance in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth Park and opening the first Community Nature Center in 2024 to foster coexistence.