The connection between freshwater mammals and urban deer
Dr. Jason T. Fisher, lead scientist for the Urban Deer Research Project in Oak Bay, was recently the subject of an article in the Oak Bay News (see page A4).
While “Accelerated human-induced extinction crisis in the world’s freshwater mammals” may sound like quite a stretch from Oak Bay’s Urban Deer, in fact there are a number of connections that can be made between the two studies. The most significant parallel is the impact of human activity and how it encroaches on land and water habitats. Along with increasing aridity (see Dr. Fisher’s peer reviewed paper on habitat use in Oak Bay), pesticide use and the continually expanding impact of the human footprint and climate change, the relationship between land, water and the human species are deeply intertwined. Dr. Fisher’s work in Oak Bay and globally, helps us understand our impact, role and responsibilities, as well as how much we can learn from Indigenous ways of living in harmony with the land, water and other species.
The UWSS and Oak Bay is so lucky to have Dr. Fisher lead the cutting edge and recognized work of the immuno-contraception research in Oak Bay!
