Summary: Wildlife Management Plan

ENR 4567, Assessing Sustainability: Project Experience Research group members: Krysten Dick, Dani Flowers, Stephanie Karns, Justine Patmon, Evan Moorer School of Environment and Natural Resources; College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences; The Ohio State University December 2012 What is the wildlife management plan for OSU? Who knew OSU even needed to manage wildlife? These questions are fair game for anyone involved with the university and the Olentangy River corridor. The OSU framework plan proposes that the Olentangy River corridor become a new oval for the university. However, our research shows that this new oval may be home to more than just OSU students. We expect the corridor to become even more excellent habitat for urban wildlife such as raccoons, skunks, squirrels, beavers, and coyotes. While the mention of these animals may be exciting, these species can pose serious threats to human health. Research shows that the diseases carried by these animals have the potential to cause harm to users of the river corridor. Our research group has proposed an urban wildlife management plan to address and eliminate these concerns. The Ohio State University Olentangy River Corridor Wildlife Management Plan: 1) Installation of animal-proof trashcans to eliminate unnatural food sources for urban wildlife. a) Purchase and install five animal-proof trashcans ($500 each) from Fifth Avenue to Lane Avenue. b) OSU will maintain the the trashcans. c) Evaluate the effectiveness of wildlife discouragement through trashcans. Additional measures, such as aversive conditioning, could be implemented later. 2) Installation and design of educational signage to encourage positive human-wildlife interactions and explain the purpose of trashcans. a) Design and create educational signage. b) Purchase and install two educational signs ($500 each) in the river corridor. c) Evaluate the effectiveness of the signs on public opinion of wildlife and whether the signs make a difference from just using trashcans. 3) Research opportunities for the university through this wildlife management plan. a) Survey corridor users to determine baseline opinion and knowledge about urban wildlife. b) Environmental education courses through OSU could design interpretive signs and programs for corridor users. c) Other research on wildlife management, habitat use, and human-wildlife interactions could help with understanding the new corridor.