Having worked in a wildlife center for 25 years where human wildlife conflict is the main reason for intakes and intervention of wildlife patients, we’ve had to find ways to resolve the issues through education and creating practices that would prevent the need for an animal to be admitted to our wildlife hospital. The main reason for intakes were the results of a parent animal being trapped and relocated, euthanized or poisoned, leaving orphaned wildlife behind. Issues with other wildlife considered by humans as a potential threat, presented the same tragic results for patient intakes and calls for help. We also look at wildlife populations that don’t have the typical fears of animals that live in more remote habitats, compared to the species that live and dwell in urban settings and are very comfortable living in close proximity to humans. Much of our education is focused on the value of a species which is the focus of conflict, and how hazing and deterrents are a significant reason conflicts can be resolved. This presentation will discuss how hazing and deterrents are defined for use when humans and wildlife are experiencing conflict. Understanding the history before and what led up to the conflict from the human and wildlife perspective, so the best plan and methods can be determined. Having learned from trial and error and with new and challenging conflicts always emerging, we will look at how networking, training and preparation are key to resolving human wildlife conflicts. Since so much time and effort goes into the practice of hazing and deterrent use, we will look at what works and what doesn’t work. Different scenarios in human wildlife conflict will be presented with what hazing or deterrent was used and how the methods were planned and executed. We will focus on the challenge of making those methods successful. In conclusion, we will look at how emerging conflicts between humans and wildlife will always be present and how our use of hazing and deterrents could help with these issues. Future networking and training can provide relief to those who work in the fields of wildlife and are often challenged with the task of how to resolve human wildlife conflicts.

After a twenty year career in Early Childhood Development and Education, Ms. Duncan became involved in wildlife rehabilitation in 1997 at the urging of her young daughter. To support her daughter’s dream, Ms. Duncan and her daughter volunteered together at various wildlife centers in northern California. In 2000, Ms. Duncan was hired as the first employee of Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue and was subsequently promoted to Executive Director. 

She has served as a board member for the California Council for Wildlife Rehabilitators and the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, an appointment by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. She currently serves as a board member for Wildlife Rehabilitation MD (WRMD) and Flying Tails. She is a member of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network and International Bird Rescue Center’s Oiled Wildlife Response Team.

After years of field work and inspired by the needs of wildlife and the community, Ms. Duncan launched the following fee based programs, a wildlife exclusion service, a barn owl maintenance service, and a predator exclusion service.

Ms. Duncan especially enjoys hands on work including wildlife rescues, oil spill response, designing and building wildlife enclosures, and working with other professional and passionate people in the field, and particularly mentorship.