Response from Cooperative Extension Personnel to Citizen Requests for Information about Wildlife (Poster Abstract)

Authors

Shannon Thurston, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Gary J. San Julian, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Date of this Version

October 1997

Comments

Published in Proceedings of the Eighth Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference, Roanoke, Virginia, October 16–19, 1997, edited by James A. Parkhurst. Copyright © 1997 by the authors.

Abstract

With the increasing urbanization of rural areas, conflicts between homeowners and wildlife are becoming more common. County extension offices frequently receive telephone calls from individuals who are experiencing problems with wildlife. In most cases, extension staff provides assistance over the phone or by mail. However, there are no guidelines for the distribution of information nor is there training for extension personnel. Each county office collects and distributes information differently. Because there is no follow-up to inquiries, little is known about what the homeowners actually do or whether the problems were solved. With some wildlife species, there is a question of whether we should advise the homeowner to seek help from a resource professional directly, without trying control methods themselves.