Wild City: The Animals That Live Among Us

by The Chicago Council on Science and Technology

Come learn about the wild animals that live among us at an interactive research expo followed by a talk by Lincoln Park Zoo's Dr. Seth Magle

Description:

Cities are built for people, but increasingly house many species of wildlife. These species can range from the familiar, like squirrels and pigeons, to the unusual, like hawks and coyotes. To learn to live with these animals, a scientific approach is needed. In Chicago, Illinois, the third largest city in the United States, Dr. Seth Magle and his team have conducted research for ten years on urban mammals using a unique long-term approach. He will describe their work, and some of its findings. Their ultimate goal, though, is to learn about urban wildlife species not just in Chicago, but worldwide. For that reason, they have also designed a pioneering research network, the Urban Wildlife Information Network, where partners all across North America collaborate to collect long-term data on many different species in their cities. This network is used to connect the public to local nature and help people learn about wildlife in urban regions. The hope is that this network will increase awareness of the importance of urban nature, and provide information critical to creating greener, wilder cities, in which humans and wildlife can co-exist.

This event is a part of the Animal Behavior Society's Annual Conference, Behaviour 2019, and will feature a public outreach fair prior to the program. Stop by between 9 am and 1 pm to take a look at exciting animal behavior research happening across the country!

Speaker:

Dr. Seth Magle is the Director of the Urban Wildlife Institute at the Lincoln Park Zoo, and the Executive Director of the Urban Wildlife Information Network. Seth first became interested in conservation and ecology as a college student while observing black-tailed prairie dogs living in sidewalk median strips. Eventually he completed an honors thesis on the behavior of this urban-adapted keystone species; he ultimately expanded on that research for both a master’s degree and a doctorate. However, Seth’s interests go far beyond prairie dogs to encompass all wildlife species impacted by urbanization and human development. He has published over 40 articles on urban wildlife ecology. His vision is to help create a world in which urban ecosystems represent an important component of the worldwide conservation of biodiversity.

Event Details:

Tuesday, July 23rd, Research Displays, 10:30 am-1:45 pm, Key Note, 2:00 pm- 3:00 pm, UIC Student Center East, Illinois A Room, 750 South Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60607.

This program is FREE to attend and seating will be first come, first served.

Click here for complete details.