How people can coexist with animals

how people can coexist with animals

IFAW’s wildlife coexistence campaign focuses on driving policy change at all levels of government, shifting the public’s perception of wildlife in human-dominated landscapes, and working with communities to develop behaviors and attitudes that support coexistence.

Check out IFAW’s work on shifting the conversation from conflict to coexistence and read our report on living harmoniously with wildlife in a human- dominated world.

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A coyote in Badlands National Park, South Dakota. Coyotes are prevalent in this region as one of the top predators. ©Julianna Ellis

Coexistence with coyotes

There are few animals quite as representative of this nation’s wildlife as the coyote. This resilient species has survived and thrived across nearly every North American landscape, often filling niches left by the absence of gray wolves and other apex carnivores. Despite hundreds of years of bounties fueled by misconception and targeted hunting, coyotes have continued to thrive across the U.S. However, in some communities, lack of awareness about these canids can cause unwarranted fear and even hostility toward the species. IFAW is working to shift the conversation from conflict to coexistence by educating individuals and communities about the critical role of coyotes in ecosystems and sharing information about how to safely live alongside these wily and intriguing animals.

To Learn More: Sharing land: how much do you know about your neighborhood wildlife?

Removing cruel traps and poisons

Each year the U.S. government, through programs run by the Department of Agriculture, kills millions of animals. Using deadly poisons, body-gripping traps, snares, and other inhuman tools including cyanide ejectors ("M-44s" or "cyanide bombs"), these programs completely ignore science while avoiding accountability. IFAW is working with members of Congress to promote coexistence and support non-lethal wild management strategies, making U.S. lands safer for animals and people alike.

We are also working to end the cruel and unnecessary poisoning of wolves in Alberta, Canada, where strychnine-laced baits are used as part of a government initiative to reduce wolf populations. Strychnine is a vicious and indiscriminate poison, which causes unnecessary pain, suffering and agonizing death for not only wolves, but other wildlife (including endangered species) and pets.

Sharing our shores

Seals, having inhabited the waters and shores of Cape Cod, Massachusetts for thousands of years, are an integral part of the ecosystem, history and local culture. Thanks to federal protection, the region’s gray seals have recovered from near extinction and are once again a key part of the Cape’s ecosystem.

IFAW's renowned Marine Mammal Rescue and Research team not only rescues seals that have become entangled in fishing gear, but also collects critical data to better understand and document this ongoing threat to seal populations. Our dedicated team responds to reports of seals in harm's way almost daily, and has observed many interactions between will-meaning visitors and local seals unintentionally placed at risk. Once we recognized this recurring problem, we knew we had to take action. To educate beachgoers on responsible behavior around wildlife while safeguarding the seals themselves, IFAW has spearheaded a beach signage campaign to educate tourists and locals alike about safely observing seals and appreciating them—from a distance. Collaborating with multiple government agencies and non-governmental organizations, including the Northwest Atlantic Seal Research Consortium (NASRC), we continue advancing both scientific understanding and public support for seal populations throughout the region.

read our report