The City of Dublin

Nature Education

Dublin parks have much to offer. Whether you’re in the mood for sports, walking a dog, enjoying a woodland walk, or splashing along the Scioto River you can enjoy it in Dublin. Dublin is rich with park diversity, boasting 1400 acres of land, 17 community parks, and 35 neighborhood parks. Your family might challenge themselves to see how many of the 38 playgrounds you can visit in a year; or which of the 41 ponds has the largest fish. Perhaps you can discover one of the scenic bike routes along all 90 plus miles of bike path. Regardless of how you enjoy the outside world, it’s obvious that there’s richness in Dublin.

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Bluebird Box Training

We invite you to participate in an exclusive education session on Bluebird Box Maintenance from 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the City of Dublin Service Center, 6555 Shier Rings Road.

Eastern Bluebirds are a combination of the color of sky and happiness, and the beautiful blue of their feathers lightens the hearts of our residents. We have created a volunteer program to ensure continued success of this bird.

This core network of trained volunteers will maintain bluebird boxes in our parks. Bluebirds are secondary cavity nesters, meaning they need a tree or other type of cavity to nest in but can not build it themselves. They typically rely on woodpecker cavities or human structures such as bird boxes. By establishing bluebird trails throughout Dublin, we can insure healthy populations of bluebirds for generations to come. Bluebird boxes also benefit other native secondary cavity nesters such as Tree Swallows, Chickadees and Tufted Titmice.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Míme Migliore at 614.410.4730.

 

How to Haze for Effective Reshaping of Coyote Behavior

Coexistence is not a passive undertaking

Hazing: A training method that employs immediate use of deterrents to move an animal out of an area or discourage an undesirable behavior or activity. Hazing techniques include loud noises, spraying water, bright lights, throwing objects, shouting. Hazing can help maintain a coyote's fear of humans and deter them from neighborhood spaces such as backyards and play spaces. Hazing does not do damage to animals, humans or property.

General Considerations

1. Levels of hazing need to be appropriate in relation to the activity of the coyotes.

• Coyotes in open spaces are appropriately located, and best practice is to leave them alone and educate public on personal safety.
• Coyotes out late at night when few people are present are exhibiting acceptable behavior.
• Exceptions-in early stages of hazing programs still engage animal (s). Association of danger in presence of people under all circumstances will reinforce message of avoiding contact.

2. Hazing must be more exaggerated, aggressive and consistent when first beginning a program of hazing, as coyotes “learn” it will take less effort to maintain and get appropriate response.

• It is extremely common for coyotes not to respond to hazing techniques early in the process. They do not have the relevant context to respond in the manner desired (to leave) with no history of hazing.
  

3. Techniques and tools can be used in the same manner for one animal or multiple animals. Usually there is a dominant animal in a group who will respond, and others will follow its lead. DO NOT ignore, turn back on, and avoid hazing just because there are multiple animals instead of a single individual.

4. The more often an individual coyote is hazed, by a variety of tools and techniques and a variety of people, the more effective hazing will be in changing that animals behavior in the future.

5. Hazing must be directly associated with the person involved in the hazing actions. The coyote must be aware of where the potential threat is coming from and identify the person involved.

6. Coyotes can and do recognize individual people and animals in their territories. They can learn to avoid or to harass specific individuals in response to behavior of the person and/or pet.

7. Coyotes can be routine in habit. Identifying their normal habits can help target which habits to change. EX. Coyote patrols same bike path at same time in the morning 3 to 5 days a week. Have hazers concentrate on that time and place to encourage the animal to adapt its routine to decrease contact with people.

8. Certain levels of hazing must always be maintained so that future generations of coyotes do not learn or return to unacceptable habits related to habituation to people.

9. Human behavior must change to support hazing and continued identification and if necessary removal of possible attractants.

10. Education about exclusion techniques including how to identify and remove attractants, personal responsibility in pet safety and having reasonable expectations are critical parts of a coyote hazing plan.

11. Coyotes are skittish by nature, habituated behavior is learned and reinforced by human behavior. Coyotes as a rule DO NOT act aggressively towards aggressive people. There is exception to this is cases of sick or injured animals. Engaging a sick or injured animal can result in unpredictable behavior. If this is suspected, people should not engage animal, but remove themselves from the situation and inform Animal Care and Control or Colorado Division of Wildlife.

12. Individuals involved in hazing efforts need to be trained in how to explain the hazing to residents who witness the process, explain the difference between hazing and “harassment of wildlife”, and goals of the behavior.

Potential tools for hazing

Using a variety of different hazing tools is critical; coyotes can habituate to individual items, sounds, actions.

Noisemakers: Voice, whistles, air horns, bells, “shaker” cans, pots, pie pans

Projectiles: sticks, small rocks, cans, tennis balls, rubber balls (sling shots, pepper balls, paint balls are not legal projectiles in Denver.) Other: hoses, water guns with vinegar water, spray bottles with vinegar water, pepper spray, bear repellant, walking sticks

Common Mistakes

1. Stopping hazing behavior before the animal has left the area. Hazing must continue to happen until the animal has responded and definitely removed itself from the situation.
Ex of mistake: A coyote is on front lawn. Resident goes outside and yells and blows a whistle. Coyote looks up and freezes. Resident goes back inside. Coyote has learned that it just needs to wait and harassing behavior will stop. Expect slower responses initially, response will be faster the more often the coyote experiences hazing.

Common coyote initial responses:

1. coyote will freeze and/or look at hazer without leaving. Hazing response: increase level of hazing, add sounds, stamp feet, throw things, approach or run towards animal.

2. Coyote will run short distance away and stop, looking back and/or returning. Hazing response: DO NOT LEAVE UNTIL SURE ITS GONE, increase level of hazing, add sounds, stamp feet, throw things, approach or run towards animal.

3. Not associating harassing behavior with the person doing the hazing. Do not haze from inside a building, behind vegetation or anywhere that coyote cannot directly see you. The goal is to get the animal to focus on the hazer as the source of harassment/potential danger.

Ex of mistake: Coyote is in backyard, resident opens upstairs window and yells at it. Coyote will not associate the sound with a personal threat, shouting will be background noise and won’t alter coyotes current behavior.

4. Changing your actions to avoid approaching a coyote(s). You MUST address the coyote and make sure it changes ITS actions will continuing on your desired path of action. (possible exception if you are walking a dog who becomes aggressive towards the coyote-avoid approaching, just stop and haze from current location).

Ex. You see 2 coyotes ahead on the path, so you turn around and go the opposite direction. Coyotes have learned you will avoid them and it is acceptable to expect people to avoid them without their needing to change behavior.

 

Scavenger Hunts

Participate in a Park Scavenger Hunt

Dublin parks have much to offer. Whether you’re in the mood for sports, walking a dog, enjoying a woodland walk, or splashing along the Scioto River you can enjoy it in Dublin. Dublin is rich with park diversity, boasting 1400 acres of land, 17 community parks, and 35 neighborhood parks. Your family might challenge themselves to see how many of the 38 playgrounds you can visit in a year; or which of the 41 ponds has the largest fish. Perhaps you can discover one of the scenic bike routes along all 90 plus miles of bike path.  Regardless of how you enjoy the outside world, it’s obvious that there’s richness in Dublin.

 

Watch Out for Deer

Spring is a popular time to see wildlife around Dublin. Deer are especially prominent throughout the City due to mating season.

The rise in deer activity also increases the chance for deer-related automobile accidents. Residents are advised to be cautious on the roadways during this time.

The chart below shows the number of deer killed on the City of Dublin roadways from 2003 to 2010, with a yearly average of 56.

There are several factors which can cause deer-related automobile accidents including the time of day and the speed of the automobile on the road. Areas with vegetation are also more prone to having an increase in deer activity.

Drivers can take caution by looking for deer crossing signs properly placed throughout the city. Drivers should also use their car lights during dusk and dawn when it may be harder to spot deer.

When a deer is spotted, slow down immediately and never swerve. If you hit a deer, report the incident to Dublin Police, especially if the deer is injured or remains in the roadway.

The map below indicates areas where deer-related automobile accidents have occurred. The increase in color designates higher deer-related accidents.

 

National certification confirms “It’s Greener in Dublin”

Dublin is first in Ohio to become a certified Community Wildlife Habitat

The City of Dublin has become certified by the National Wildlife Federation as the 43rd Community Wildlife Habitat in the country and the very first community in the state of Ohio to achieve this honor.

In response to City Council’s goal to promote greener and more sustainable habits in the community, Dublin decided to work toward becoming a certified Community Wildlife Habitat in the fall of 2008. Based on Dublin’s population size, the National Wildlife Federation established the certification criteria in four main areas. Dublin was required to:

• Certify at least 150 homes, five common areas and five schools

• Educate the community through workshops and presentations

• Provide opportunities and projects for community participation

• Develop administrative goals with a designated habitat team

In just a year and a half, Dublin residents, staff and corporate citizens worked to certify 164 homes, five schools, one business and 18 City parks.

The National Wildlife Federation specifically commends Dublin for dedicating 1300 acres to parkland and open space, having one of the strongest tree ordinances in the country and preserving the Scioto River (a critical neo-tropical bird migration corridor).

Nature Education Coordinator Míme Migliore and Administrative Assistant JoAnna Clark led Dublin’s Community Wildlife Habitat team. City residents, Sue Swyt and Tonia Stahl, and city staff, Barb Setterlin and Alex Roxanski, also were contributing members to the team

Community dedication, participation and enthusiasm gave us the opportunity to take on this project that is so focused on cultivating wildlife and embracing our natural resources,” said Migliore. “This certification proves the City is committed to creating a sustainable community for all walks of life.

Seasonal activities including bluebird box monitoring, volunteer invasive plant removals and the “It’s Greener in Dublin” four-part educational series are just a few examples of the programs the National Wildlife Federation likes to see a community initiate.

Migliore and Clark partnered with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to host the Northern Franklin County Wildlife Roundtable as well as the Ohio Wildlife Center, a rehab facility for injured wildlife. 

“Dublin was a very “green” city to begin with, but now it is an even friendlier place for wildlife,” said Roxanne Nersesian Paul, senior coordinator of the National Wildlife Federation.

To keep the Community Wildlife Habitat status, the City must continue to earn a minimum amount of points each year. Dublin can earn points for various activities including holding educational meetings about wildlife issues, certifying additional homes or common areas and examining the community’s weed ordinances.

“Aligning with the City’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan and Council goals, will assure we continue down a more sustainable pathway, preserving parks for future generations and wildlife,” said Migliore.

To commemorate this award and to acknowledge those contributing community members, the City is hosting a dessert reception from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. before the Council Meeting on Monday, Aug. 23.  Dublin community members who have certified their home or business are invited to celebrate this achievement at the Coffman Park east shelter house, 5200 Emerald Parkway.