Humans and wildlife have been competing for space, food, and water for millennia. Our Stone Age ancestors had a tougher time, relying on rudimentary tools and weapons to compete with top predators and other animals vying for the same resources. However, as we evolved, our technology improved, and we established vast cities and civilizations. With
more people to feed and more space needed, the conflict between humans and wildlife
intensified.
In the 21st century, the demand for space, food, and water has reached unprecedented levels as the human population surpasses 8 billion. Experts suggest that humans have modified more than 14% of the Earth’s surface. This may not seem much until you consider that only 29% of the Earth is habitable. Our increasing impact has created numerous social
and environmental issues, leading scientists to call this period the Anthropocene, a time shaped largely by human activities rather than natural processes.
As towns and cities expand, wild spaces are being pushed back causing more frequent conflict between humans and wildlife. The NSPCA (2020) defines human-animal conflict as situations where “the need or behaviour of an animal negatively impacts on humans, or when humans pursue goals that negatively impact on the needs of animals.” Natural resources are reduced, leading to competition and human presence introduces new resources that attract wildlife, such as food, shelter, and water.
Animals that commonly come into contact with humans are often viewed as pests. For some, rodents, dassies, owls, bats, and snakes are seen as unwelcome visitors that need to be eliminated. These encounters are sometimes addressed using inhumane methods like trapping, poisoning, and hunting. These methods cause harm and trauma to animals, often
indiscriminately affecting non-target species.
It is important to change the perception of animals that have adapted to live near humans. Instead of seeing them as pests, we should view them as allies that can help control other animals that may spread disease or damage property. For example, owls and snakes are effective rodent predators. The Western Barn Owl (Tyto alba affinis), common in South African urban areas, can catch up to ten rats every night, making them an extremely effective and non-toxic form of rodent population control. The Cape Serotine Bat (Neoromicia capensis), another common visitor to urban gardens in South Africa, feeds on
insects like mosquitoes, moths, and beetles. They can eat up to ten times their own weight in insects every night. It has even been calculated that approximately 35,000 mosquitoes are eaten per bat, per night!
Sometimes, controlling animals near human settlements is necessary, especially if they carry disease, are invasive, pose threats to people, or damage infrastructure. However, many humane methods can be used. The NSPCA firmly believes that all animals are deserving of kindness, compassion, and consideration for their well-being. Here are some examples of
humane methods to deter or control urban wildlife.
Bats
- Provide alternative roosting boxes.
- Use flexible netting to exclude bats from buildings.
- Install a bat-proof valve in entrance holes.
- Place smooth PVC tubing into holes or gaps.
Birds
- Use netting to deter nesting.
- Provide alternative nesting areas.
- Avoid putting out food that attracts birds.
Snakes
- Keep your property tidy to prevent attracting rodents, a snake’s main source of food.
- Call a humane snake removal expert if you encounter a snake.
- Note that there are no effective snake ‘repellents’ (including burning tyres, Jeyes
Fluid, wild garlic, onions, or shop-bought repellents).
Rodents
- Don’t leave food out.
- Eliminate hiding places or shelter by keeping your property tidy.
- Seal any gaps that rodents may use to gain access to your building.
- Seal gaps and holes around piping or cables that go into the house.
Dassies
- Use humane exclusion methods like netting and fencing to protect your garden.
- Plant strong-smelling herbs and plants.
- Place cotton wool saturated in peppermint oil in areas where you want to deter
dassies.
Humans and wildlife are competing for the Earth’s remaining habitable space and humans seem to be winning- but at what cost? In the last fifty years, global animal populations, including fish, reptiles, mammals, birds, and amphibians have dropped by an average of almost 70%. Invasive species, habitat destruction, disease, and overuse of natural resources have caused a 65% loss in biodiversity in Africa alone since the 1970s. A healthy diversity of plants and animals is essential for a functioning Earth. Instead of seeing animals that share our space as pests, it is time to change the narrative and see them as partners in sustaining a healthy planet for all.
References:
A warning sign: where biodiversity loss is happening around the world (2021). World Wildlife
Fund. Retrieved from https://www.worldwildlife.org/magazine/issues/summer-
2021/articles/a-warning-sign-where-biodiversity-loss-is-happening-around-the-world
Bats about bats! (2008, October 20). Zeekoevlei. Retrieved from
Batty about bats (n.d.). EcoSolutions. Retrieved from https://ecosolutions.co.za/news/batty-
about-bats
Human deterrents and pest control (n.d.). Cape of Good Hope SPCA. Retrieved from
National Council of SPCAs (2020). NSPCA Operations Manual: Human-Animal Conflict.
Section 1-2: Position Statement 3.5.
Owls take flight in Alex (n.d.). Joburg. Retrieved from
Paxman, G. (2020, August 25). 50% of Earth's land surface remains relatively
untouched by humans. Earth.org. Retrieved from https://earth.org/half-of-earths-
land-surface-remains-relatively-untouched-by-humans/
Routley, N. (2021, October 19). This is how much of the Earth's surface humans have
modified. World Economic Forum. Retrieved from
development/
Western Barn Owl (2018, May 20). South African National Biodiversity Institute.
Retrieved from https://www.sanbi.org/animal-of-the-week/western-barn-owl/