Human-Wildlife Interactions

Are you taking steps to protect your pets and livestock from coyotes and mountain lions? Are you concerned about the coyotes you see in your neighborhood? Are you wondering how to keep rats and gophers out of your garden? I am happy to answer these questions and more to help mitigate conflict between people and wildlife. I'm available for site visits, outreach presentations, and individual consultations. In the unfortunate event of losing an animal, I can help identify what species was responsible and talk through steps you can take to prevent it from happening again.

Carolyn Whitesell, PhD: cawhitesell@ucanr.edu

(650) 224-4679

Human-Wildlife Interactions Advisor

Counties served: Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Alameda, and Contra Costa
Human-Wildlife Interactions website

Vertebrate Pest Management

Protecting infrastructure and properties from CA ground squirrels and other burrowing rodents

California ground squirrel burrows can threaten the integrity of infrastructure and can be a safety hazard for both people and animals. This program works with agencies, 4-H, pest control companies, and the general public to promote best management practices to effectively manage CA ground squirrels and other burrowing rodents.

Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation

Promoting conflict mitigation tools for small-scale livestock producers and owners

Keeping animals safe from predators is an important part of animal welfare. This program provides education on the most effective techniques for preventing livestock depredation by local wildlife, including bobcats, coyotes, and mountain lions. I am working in collaboration with other researchers to test new strategies to discourage predators from predating on small stock.

Better understanding the risks of predators to commercial livestock production

The size and scale of a livestock operation can have associated logistical and financial challenges for protecting livestock from predators. Techniques that may be effective for a small-parcel livestock owner may not work for on an open range system and vice versa. In collaboration with UCCE colleagues and livestock producers, this program is conducting research on effectiveness of nonlethal tools such as livestock guardian dogs on commercial operations. In addition, this program is working to better quantify predator risk and impacts on livestock production in the Bay Area. This information is critical for informing the development of ways to address predator issues.

General Public Outreach on Wildlife

Educating the general public on how to coexist with neighborhood wildlife

How do I keep myself, my children, and my pets safe from coyotes and other wildlife that I see on my street? What is normal coyote behavior? How do I protect my garden from gophers? These are common questions that people face throughout the Bay Area. This program provides educational materials and information to empower individuals and inform how they can live safely alongside their wild neighbors.