Promoting Fertility Control to Mitigate Human-Wildlife Conflicts

As human populations and urbanization expand, conflicts between humans and wildlife increase. Traditional methods to resolve such conflicts focused primarily on lethal management including culling with firearms, trapping and... [ view full abstract ]

As human populations and urbanization expand, conflicts between humans and wildlife increase. Traditional methods to resolve such conflicts focused primarily on lethal management including culling with firearms, trapping and toxicants. In response to human health and safety, animal welfare and environmental concerns associated with lethal wildlife management practices, in the late 20^th century researchers began exploring the possibility of mitigating conflicts by using fertility control to manage wildlife populations. Since then, scientists from around the world have been developing and testing field applications of a wide array of contraception and sterilization methods for both free-roaming wildlife and feral populations of animals. Significant progress has been made in the development of both agents and delivery systems. Some challenges remain, mainly related to feasibility, costs and sustainability, and these must be surmounted in order to supply the increasing demand from the public and wildlife managers for effective, nonlethal wildlife management tools.  

The Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control was established in 2016 by the Dietrich W. Botstiber Foundation in partnership with The Humane Society of the United States to advance the use of humane, sustainable, non-lethal fertility control methods to manage wildlife populations worldwide. To achieve this goal, the Institute educates policymakers, wildlife professionals and the public by: 1) fostering information sharing, networking and collaboration through the continuation of the International Conference on Fertility Control in Wildlife series and by hosting workshops and symposiums; 2) awarding grants to support projects that promote and advance the expansion of practical applications and public policies on wildlife fertility control; and, 3) serving as a scientific resource center by maintaining a repository of information on the field of wildlife fertility control.

The proposed presentation will report on Institute activities from 2017-2018, including highlights from the 8^th International Conference on Wildlife Fertility Control held in Washington D.C. in July 2017. The conference convened over one hundred attendees from twelve countries. Participants included scientists, veterinarians, managers, policy-makers and non-governmental organizations. Presentations focused on the progress and challenges associated with the use of fertility control in a variety of species including bison, donkeys, feral cattle, deer, elephants, wild horses, kangaroos, koalas, wild pigs, commensal rodents, and squirrels. The proposed presentation will also feature highlights from the Institute’s upcoming Urban Deer Fertility Control Workshop to be held in Westchester County, New York in May 2018 and the Wild Horse Fertility Control Workshop to be held in Reno, Nevada in November 2018 as well as updates on projects supported by the Institute’s 2017-2018 grants program and future Institute activities.