Hello, Springfield registered neighborhoods! I’m Ashley Schnake, urban wildlife biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation, and I’m here to help you understand your “wild” neighbors. No, not the Smiths next door, but the furry, feathered, and scaly neighbors that are sharing your outside space.
As urban areas continue to expand several wildlife species have successfully adapted to life within the city. My goal as your Urban Wildlife Biologist is to assist your neighborhood to understand the wildlife that is living in your backyards and outdoor green spaces.
Learning the general biology of your “wild” neighbors is vital to living harmoniously with the wildlife in your neighborhood. Also, it is vital to understand that certain human activities can be:
- Detrimental to the health of the animal
- Can change the behavior of the animal ultimately leading to a human/wildlife conflict.
I am always happy to present at any neighborhood association meeting and am available to assist with any wildlife issue that the neighborhood may currently be experiencing.
Does your neighborhood have parks and/or greenspace? Those are great locations to develop for wildlife viewing. Pollinators and song birds seek these areas within the city. As your urban wildlife biologist I could assist in making those spaces more usable for pollinators, song birds, and other “wild” neighbors. This assistance could come via plant species suggestions to possible planning of the whole project to possible funding assistance through Community Conservation Grant funds (available for those registered neighborhoods that have a non-profit status 501(c)3).
I look forward to hearing from you to discuss your “wild” neighbors and to work with your neighborhood to develop wildlife viewing areas. I can be reached at 417-895-6881, ext. 1637 or at Ashley.Schnake@mdc.mo.gov.