As urban development rapidly expands into wildlife habitats, carnivora species such as cougars (Puma concolor) and coyotes (Canis latrans) are coming into closer contact with humans, with these encounters often leading to conflict (Gehrt, 2010).
Multispecies entanglements explores human-animal relations (Van Dooran et al., 2016), and with the growing popularity of remote cameras and security cameras, an increasing number of urban carnivora images are being shared online (Newey et al., 2015). How can these images shape public perceptions of carnivora in urban areas, and can this form of wildlife viewing foster peaceful coexistence between humans and wildlife?
Photo: Musser, Moonlight & Shadow 2023
This project stems from my personal experiences with human-coyote conflict. Moving to Phoenix in 2019, I found coyotes visiting my yard, causing distress for my dogs and myself. Determined to find solutions, I turned to remote cameras to gain insight and look for pattens in coyote behavior.
Through these cameras, I soon realized that it was my behaviors were contributing to the tension. This revelation reshaped our relationship, debunking previously held myths and ultimately altering my social norms. Understanding when, why, and how conflicts occurred, I made simple changes like avoiding attractants in my yard and supervising my dogs outdoors.
Today I peacefully coexist with coyotes and remote cameras continue to inform my understanding carnivore behavior. To my surprise, I’ve identified bobcats, gray foxes, raccoons, and javelina as part of my urban wildlife.
As a post-graduate researcher, I would like to help others reach a place of peaceful coexistence with urban carnivores. As an environmental educator with a MA in anthrozoology I can help you redefine your relationship with wildlife. I will empower you to become a community scientist, giving you the skills and knowledge to passively monitor the carnivores that visit your home. Unlike other human-wildlife coexistence initiatives, we will use a transdisciplinary approach where we collaborate with anthropologists, biologists, photographers, educators and wildlife rehabilitators. In addition to learning from experts, our shared journey of understanding will extend to learning from our urban carnivores. Through this collective knowledge, we aim to collaboratively create a safer environment for humans, pets, and carnivores alike.
To learn more about this project, please email me at claire@connectionsforcoexistence.org
GEHRT, Stanley, D. 2010. Urban carnivores. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
NEWEY, Scott, Paul DAVIDSON, Sajid NAZIR, Gorry FAIRHURST, R. Justin IRVINE and Rene VAN DER WAL. 2015. Limitations of recreational camera traps for wildlife management and conservation research: A practitioner’s perspective. Ambio, 44(S4), pp.624-635.
VAN DOOREN, Thom, Eben KIRKSEY, and Ursula MUNSTER. 2016. “Multispecies Studies,” Environmental Humanities, 8(1), pp. 1–23.