| Increased urbanization and modern agricultural practices have resulted in some human-wildlife interactions becoming problematic. Problem-wildlife are not so much “problems”, as wildlife whose natural behaviours are interfering with human activities. By definition, problem-wildlife cause property damage or are a threat to public health and safety. In reality, whether a species is a problem can vary from individual to individual as a result of personal experiences and a willingness to tolerate some inconvenience. Manitobans' were found to spend considerable amounts of time and money purposely interacting with, and managing their properties for, wildlife. Yet human-wildlife conflicts management in the province cost more than {dollar}16 million dollars per annum. At least half of the wildlife agencies contacted could not provide dollar values for their problem-wildlife activities, so the annual cost of Manitoba's problem-wildlife is, in fact, much greater. Trying to solve human-wildlife conflicts, however, can be equally as problematic. There are a number of public and private wildlife-related agencies and organizations and a myriad of federal, provincial and municipal legislation, all of which have resulted in a complex, and confusing, web of jurisdictions and responsibilities. To compound the problem, there has been virtually no Manitoba-specific research conducted on problem-wildlife or its management. Education and improved communication are perhaps the most effective and efficient methods to: (a) reduce human-wildlife conflicts; (b) increase human tolerance and ability to manage their own conflicts with wildlife; and (c) improve communication among the public and wildlife managers. To an electronic information database was created to provide the general public, as well as wildlife managers, with basic problem-wildlife management information so that conflicts with wildlife can be more effectively and efficiently resolved. |
