UBC Urban Raccoon Project
Project Leads
Sarah Benson-Amram, Assistant Professor, Department of Forest and Conservation Science/ Zoology, Faculty of Forestry and Science (Supervisor)
Hannah Griebling, UBC Graduate Student (PhD), Faculty of Forestry
Funding
Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm; UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems; UBC New Professor Start-Up Fund
About the Project
Researchers will be using wildlife cameras to estimate abundance and monitor the behaviour and activity of raccoons at the UBC Farm. Species such as raccoons are commonly regarded as “pest” species. Understanding where these species are most common, and when they are most active, can aid in the reduction of human-wildlife conflict. This project will also help us understand their daily activity patterns, behavioural flexibility and social organization to better understand how raccoons are learning, adapting and evolving within urban environments.
Research Questions
- Can wildlife cameras be used to determine the density of (meso)predators?
- In what locations (across Vancouver), and at what times, are raccoons most active?
- What areas of Vancouver support high densities of raccoons?
- What are the risks and drivers of human-wildlife conflicts with raccoons in Vancouver?