What is Coexistence?
Photo provided by Coyote Watch Canada
Coexistence means for two objects to exist at the same time and in the same place. Coexisting with wildlife means people and animals living together in the same communities at the same time.
As cities expand, the climate changes, and ecosystems adapt to significant human disruptions, finding ways to live with wildlife become more important. While traditional thought is that wildlife must exist elsewhere, science and experience have proven that living alongside wildlife is not only beneficial to ecosystems and communities, but essential for sustainable, healthy communities.
Making coexistence a daily intention requires understanding the local ecosystem, the needs and wants of everyone within it – including people and wildlife, and seizing opportunities to ensure everyone is able to live happily and safely.
It also means understanding the negative impacts human behaviour can have on wildlife, particularly through indirect or direct feeding.
Photo by mirceax / Getty Images
Photo by Carol Hamilton / Getty Images
In this section of our website you will find resources, tools, and research about coexistence, organized by species.
Below is a recent list of coexistence-related articles and content that may be of interest and helpful to newcomers to the concept of coexistence.
Are we missing anything that should be on this page? Let us know! Email us at info@TheFurBearers.com or use our contact form by clicking here.
Door Hangers Available:
- Coexisting with Bears
- Coexisting with Coyotes
- Coexisting with Wildlife (general)
Our coexistence door hangers are designed to be a simple but effective educational tool. The double-sided pamphlet, cut so it easily hooks onto most residential doors, explains the basics on attractant management, what to do if you encounter wildlife, and how to find more information about coexistence.
These door hangers are available FREE upon request for you to distribute in your neighbourhood. Send us an email at info@TheFurBearers.com with your contact information and a bit about your community. Based on your needs, we’ll send you hangers (25-50 is normally a good starting point) so you can get started with supporting coexistence at the local level.
The Fur-Bearers are pleased to share our Urban Feeding of Fur-Bearing Wildlife literature review. This review, compiled by Amelia Porter, MSc, EP, RPBio, organizes and provides an overview of the available studies and general state of knowledge related to wildlife feeding in urban areas.
The review will help inform our work in reducing negative encounters between people and wildlife, and assist municipalities and decision-makers to reach non-lethal decisions, rooted in the science of coexistence.
Urban Feeding of Fur-Bearing Wildlife answers three main questions:
- Why do people feed urban wildlife?
- What are the impacts to wildlife and humans in terms of behavior, health, ecology and conflict?
- What are proven and potential mitigation strategies?
A free Wildlife Attractant Bylaw Toolkit is available to municipalities and concerned residents across British Columbia, with the goal of reducing negative encounters between humans and bears.
The Toolkit, developed by the Get Bear Smart Society, a member of the BC Bear Alliance (of which The Fur-Bearers is also a member), is a result of a multi-stakeholder collaboration and captures the common goal of supporting communities in their efforts to manage and reduce anthropogenic food sources.
The toolkit is robust, including sections on:
- Why wildlife attractant bylaws are necessary
- Methods to reduce human-bear interactions
- First Nation bylaw considerations
- Considerations for presenting to a council or board
- Sample bylaws with detailed explanations
- A complete reference list.
In this section find some of The Fur-Bearers’ videos related to coexistence. Looking for more? Check our YouTube channel by clicking here.
70 Years For The Animals: A Look Back For The Fur-Bearers
Celebrate our 70th anniversary with this short look back through the decades to our founding!
Raccoon found suffering in Maple Ridge trap
The Fur-Bearers are reminding residents cruel or illegal trapping can lead to Wildlife Act or criminal charges. No graphic images.
Getting To Know Pet Rabbits
Volunteer writer Réjeanne Lacroix shares the joy - and difficulties - in raising pet rabbits, as well as major issues surrounding dumping.
2023 Is The Year of the Rabbit
Did you know Canada is home to five native species of rabbits? Learn more with this great article from The Fur-Bearers!
Warm winter weather can wake wildlife
People-provided food can keep bears, other animals from resting and create negative encounters
2022 Year in Review
See the impact The Fur-Bearers and our supporters had on wildlife, habitat, and communities across Canada in 2022!
Educational tools available to help communities coexist with coyotes
The Fur-Bearers remind residents that feeding changes the behaviour of wildlife and is often a pre-cursor to negative encounters leading to coyotes’ deaths.
Stinky Misconceptions About Skunks
Volunteer writer Réjeanne Lacroix breaks down six common misconceptions about neighbourhood skunks - and that can help us coexist.
