A local environmentalist wants to see urban design and wildlife work together.<\/p>\n
There are currently over 500 plant and animal species that are considered at risk in Canada, according to the Canadian Wildlife Federation<\/a>. The City of Ottawa<\/a> is home to over 60 of them, including plants and trees, insects, mammals, birds and aquatic species.<\/p>\n Sahar Seif, who is currently working towards her master\u2019s degree in environmental sustainability from the University of Ottawa, says the city needs to rethink the infrastructure of new developments to protect species at risk and other wildlife.<\/p>\n Seif works seasonally at Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary as a wildlife rehabilitator. She says that urban design and environmental conservation go hand-in-hand.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I would argue that\u2026 there's a lot of large gaps that so many are trying to fill with protecting species,\u201d says Seif. \u201cBut understanding habitat is difficult in a world that is quickly losing its greenspaces at the rate that we are going.\u201d<\/p>\n In April 2019, Ottawa declared a climate emergency<\/a>. Ottawa introduced a Climate Change Master Plan<\/a> in January 2020, which included a vow to \u201capply a climate lens to the new Official Plan and its supporting documents.\u201d Additionally, the city has implemented legislation to protect Ottawa\u2019s natural ecology, such as the Tree Protection By-law of 2020<\/a>.<\/p>\n But there are structural considerations in urban design that environmental scholars such as Seif believe Ottawa and other major municipalities have overlooked.<\/p>\n \u201cRegarding design, a lot of modern design seems to be covered by glasses\u2026that are very reflective,\u201d says Seif. \u201cWe're so accustomed to having these really reflective, clean windows, but when in fact\u2026that is the worst thing for birds and migratory birds, especially when they're coming in.\u201d<\/p>\n Ottawa does have some guidelines<\/a> for building more sustainable developments, but their objectives mainly focus on creating energy-efficient homes and structures that will contribute less to the pollution of surrounding areas.<\/p>\n Seif says some of the species most at-risk of harm from new developments in Ottawa are avians such as birds and bats, who look for high-up places such as roofs and window sills to build their homes.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving designers include things like\u2026creating a habitat for them, would perhaps be very beneficial to\u2026the oncoming birds and whatever things that could be visiting on a migratory basis,\u201d says Seif.<\/p>\n Seif added that the status of aquatic species in Ottawa is compromised due to the development of the Ottawa River watershed.<\/p>\n According to Ottawa Riverkeeper<\/a>, a local environmental group, there are several species at risk that call Ottawa\u2019s waters home, including types of fish, frogs, turtles and birds. Human influence on the watershed, such as the construction of dams, municipal and industrial wastewater run-off, and the development of the shoreline have all contributed to the destruction of natural habitats along the Ottawa River.<\/p>\n Seif says turtles are frequent visitors to the Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, as their habitats are actively being destroyed.<\/p>\n \u201cTurtles, by default, are very much at risk around areas such as Ottawa because we are primarily a swamp and wet sort of habitat,\u201d says Seif. \u201cRight now in the sanctuary, we have a Blanding's turtle baby that came to us because he had fallen in a pool. We have snapping turtles. We also have painted turtles. And on\u2026 occasion, we have a turtle called 'map turtle'\u2026 and they are threatened, as most turtles are in Ontario.\u201d<\/p>\n Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary also receives a high volume of small mammals, such as raccoons, skunks, squirrels and groundhogs. Seif says many of them are injured or killed trying to cross urban highways and roads, while others are reported as a nuisance by homeowners and require relocation.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd there's nothing that is in place to compensate for\u2026 all the roads that are killing off all these creatures,\u201d says Seif. \u201cAnd they just keep building things that increase the risk. So for sure, this is a major problem.\u201d<\/p>\n Wildlife crossings are a potential solution to protecting animals from getting hit by cars. Banff National Park in Alberta has received acclaim for their series of corridors<\/a> built under roads, allowing for the safe passage of local wildlife. However, there are few elsewhere in Canada.<\/p>\n Ottawa\u2019s Wildlife Strategy<\/a> doesn\u2019t include a mandate for the construction of wildlife crossings, but it does provide for the maintenance of municipal culverts<\/a>, a part of Ottawa\u2019s larger drainage system. There are 52 culverts in Ottawa, which are large, tunnel-like corridors built under roads, railways, and embankments, permitting the passage of wildlife.<\/p>\n Seif says that in addition to implementing wildlife-friendly infrastructure throughout the city, there is a need for greater education regarding the proper treatment of wild animals. She says there is a general lack of knowledge among urban residents about the wildlife living among them, which can lead to dire consequences for some species.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, people\u2026 call and say, \u2018this animal is on my property, and I don't want it here,\u2019\u201d says Seif. \u201cOr, \u2018I don't see the mom, what do I do?\u2019 So a lot of the time, we refer them to the website, which explains the exact protocols to follow in a situation.\u201d<\/p>\n Seif says a common misconception people have is that baby rabbits found on their own are orphaned or abandoned. In fact, rabbits don\u2019t burrow, but make their nests on the ground\u2019s surface, according to the Ontario SPCA<\/a>. It\u2019s therefore common to stumble upon a nest of baby rabbits when the mother is out, but the SPCA says they shouldn\u2019t be touched. Baby rabbits are extremely vulnerable without their mothers, according to Seif, who says she often sees people bringing in baby rabbits to the sanctuary.<\/p>\n \u201cSo by doing that, you're making a death sentence for that animal,\u201d says Seif.<\/p>\n Seif wants to encourage residents to educate themselves about their wild neighbours, as well as to think about how their habitats can coexist with our own.<\/p>\n