When I arrived in Kamloops as an international student, I was amazed at the local wildlife found around campus and the town. For the first time in my life, I saw crows, that are my favorite bird, and deer walking peacefully in an urban area.
But, urban wildlife can cause conflicts with humans, so for a better and safer understanding between humans and animals, here are some of the best practices for when you encounter wildlife around campus. I think that this may come into hand for many international students, as some of these animals do not exist in our home countries. All information is according to the BC Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA).
There are lots of deer around campus, and they are so cute to observe, always from afar. They are not aggressive, the only exception being when they are protecting their baby fawns. You should never feed them; it is against the law and could create a dependency for the deer, making them less able to survive on their own. It is important to always follow the speed limits (especially during the night) and drive carefully; collisions with urban deer are one of the biggest problems faced by the urban population of the species.
Crows are some of the most intelligent animals in the world; they can even remember the faces of people that they like (or don’t like). Feeding them is not recommended, as that could attract more birds and other animals.
The general consensus of the BC SPCA is never to feed wildlife and always collect your litter. They recommend contacting their helpline at 1-855-622-7722 for more information regarding animal- kind methods of solving urban wildlife conflicts.
Sources: https://spca.bc.ca/
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