The Tragedy of Becoming Common: Landscape Change and Perceptions of Wildlife

Some wildlife species are adapting to urbanizing settings made more attractive due to changes in land-use practices, human attitudes and behaviors, and conservation efforts. People who live in communities near suburban parks are encountering wildlife more frequently than in the past, with varying reactions. In-depth interviews conducted with residents living near three national parks yielded insight on osuburban deero as an emerging social construct. Interviewees described expectations about deer abundance and behavior that guided their interactions with suburban deer and affected deer behavior, which in turn affected interviewees' evaluations of deer and subsequent responses to interactions. Left unchecked, this process may result in the ultimate otragedy of becoming common,o when species are no longer viewed as wildlife, but as pests or pets. In the absence of an established cultural construct for suburban wildlife, stakeholder engagement will continue to play an important role in understanding and addressing these diverging views.