Public Education and Outreach: Human-Wildlife Conflict Reduction and Attractant Management

While working as the Fraser Valley Coordinator for WildSafeBC (BC Conservation Foundation), a key initiative involved educating the public and engaging in outreach activities to prevent conflicts between humans and wildlife, as well as managing wildlife attractants. In less than one year, I visited 43 schools, reaching over 3,300 young individuals to educate them about the wildlife in BC and how to coexist safely in the Fraser Valley. By conducting door-to-door canvassing, I connected with over 600 residents to raise awareness about managing wildlife attractants, especially in high-risk wildlife conflict areas. Through four residential garbage tagging audits in Mission, BC, I stimulated an 87% decrease in waste carts (garbage cans) being placed outside during inappropriate times as per local Bylaws. I also participated in 11 community events with educational booths, reaching nearly 4,000 attendees. Additionally, I built strong relationships with Indigenous Communities, Conservation Officers, volunteers, and sponsors.

The Chilliwack Progress: WildSafeBC educates 2,383 Abbotsford students about human-wildlife conflict