Balancing the Needs of Wildlife and People
Popular culture would have us believe that wildlife conservation is the result of scientists in tactical vests trekking into the wilderness in search of species to protect. Some conservation works that way, but many wildlife wins are borne from something much more ordinary:Biological consulting.
When transportation agencies expand freeways or home developers build new communities, biological consultants like our BioServices teammonitor these projects anddetermine theirimpact on wildlife. They also advise on ways to lessen thoseimpacts, and collect data to informconservation efforts.
When bridges needed replacement inurban areas of San Diego County, wefound the bats that called those bridges home. We guided projectschedulesto avoid disturbing the bats duringcritical times, like when female Mexican free-tailed bats gather to protect their vulnerable, flightless pups.
And long after the last scrape of the excavator, wecontinued to be there. For thetwelfth year in a row, museum scientistsmonitored the population of Least Bell’s Vireos within theOtay Ranch Preserve. We guided management decisions so that the preserve continues toprovide high-quality breeding habitat for this federallyendangeredbird.
In many places, land and infrastructure development are at complete odds with environmental wellbeing. But itdoesn’talwayshave to be that way. As beneficiaries of both a healthy ecosystem and athrivingmetropolis, we aim to strike a balance that works for everyone—from humans to hummingbirds and everything in between.
Posted by Cypress Hansen, Science Communications Manager and Brenna Ogg, Senior Biologist for BioServices.
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