Support native wildlife conservation

We share Georgia with over 4,000 species of plants and animals. As our human population expands, we must consider the impacts on local wildlife and take action to protect it.

What's the issue?

Habitat Loss

Habitat loss is a primary threat to wildlife in Georgia, and throughout the world. Some of the leading causes of habitat loss are pollution, climate change, urban and roadway development, and agricultural conversion.
Many species of native reptiles and amphibians are experiencing population declines due to the loss of longleaf pine habitat, which only covers 3% of its historical range in the southeastern United States.
Plants such as the state-protected montane purple pitcher plant and the swamp pink are suffering due to loss of mountain bog habitats. Many other plants and animals rely on mountain bog habitats to live and thrive.
Urban development near Georgia’s coast has negative effects on native animal species such as diamondback terrapins.

Invasive Species

The International Union for Conservation of Nature deems invasive, or alien, species as second only to habitat loss as a cause of species endangerment and extinction. Invasive species are plants and animals that have been introduced, either intentionally or accidentally, into areas outside their natural ranges. While many of these species are benign, some have significant negative impacts on the natural environment, human and animal health, or even the economy.
Domestic cats are considered among the world’s most impactful invasive species. As notable predators, outdoor domestic and feral cats threaten native fauna, especially on islands where native species evolved in relative isolation from non-native predators. It is extremely difficult to quantify how many birds and small- to medium-sized mammals cats kill each year, but scientists estimate it to be billions or tens of billions animals annually in the U.S. alone.

Native Bats

Georgia is home to 16 species of bats, some of which have specific habitat needs such as caves with suitable temperature and humidity or large, hollow-bottomed trees. Populations of these species are more vulnerable to habitat alterations.
Up to 95% of Georgia’s bat populations are in rapid decline due to habitat loss and a disease known as white nose syndrome (WNS). This fungal infection causes bats to wake up early from hibernation, which leads to them losing the stored fat they gained over the year to prepare for hibernation.
In addition to being a fascinating part of our natural heritage, bats also provide an invaluable service. They are great foragers of flying insects, including pests which can destroy crops and spread disease. A single bat can eat hundreds of mosquitos in one hour. They also eat large numbers of moths and beetles that cause agricultural damage.

Native & Migratory Birds

Native and migratory bird populations are decreasing due to habitat loss, window collisions and predation by cats.
- - Reflective glass showing trees and shrubs, or even indoor plants near windows, confuse birds and cause them to collide with windows. This can lead to death or serious injury that impedes a bird’s ability to survive in the wild.
  - Bright lights can confuse and disorient both resident and migrating birds as they pass over cities, leading to collision and exhaustion.
  - It is difficult to measure the impact of predation by outdoor domestic and feral cats, but research estimates it to be billions of birds annually.
The feeding of bread and other human foods to local waterfowl leads to serious health problems, and disease.
- - Overcrowding due to more available food also causes stress and aggression between birds and habituation to humans leads to decreased fear and a higher likelihood of being hit by vehicles or entangled in litter.
  - Feeding local ducks can lead to leftover food attracting other scavenging animals, which in high concentration can lead to zoonotic diseases transmitting to humans. Overcrowding of waterfowl can also lead to environmental effects from their feces and foraging habits. Waterfowl like geese that become habituated may nest and raise young near humans, leading to defensive behavior of nests and offspring.
  - Feeding bread, crackers, popcorn, and other foods people commonly feed to ducks in local parks has health consequences. All of these "snacks" add up and lead to metabolic bone disease and other deformities, which can lead to bone fractures and inability to fly.

What is zoo Atlanta doing to help?

Zoo Atlanta’s Horticulture Team supports local and regional plant conservation efforts.
- - As members of the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance, Zoo Atlanta’s Horticulture Team participates in mountain bog (one of the most critically endangered habitats of the southern Appalachians) restoration and assists in safeguarding some of Georgia’s rarest plants. The Conservation Action Resource Center’s (ARC) living roof is a safeguarding site for Michaux’s sumac, a critically endangered plant.
  - The Horticulture Team helps preserve and protect local ecosystems by participating in prescribed burns to remove invasive species and removing overstory trees to help save the pitcher plant, which needs plenty of sunlight.
  - There are numerous native plants in several locations around the Zoo, including the native bird garden near the Anatomy of Flight habitat.
Zoo Atlanta participates in several programs to bolster populations of native wildlife.
- - Zoo Atlanta partners with the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on its Jekyll Island Causeway Conservation Project, which seeks to raise awareness of the threats facing native diamondback terrapins on coastal roadways. The Zoo contributes to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s efforts by rearing young terrapins hatched from eggs laid by females injured or killed by automobiles; when they are large enough to sufficiently avoid predators, these youngsters are returned to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, who prepares them for release into the wild.
  - We partner with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, University of Georgia, Department of Natural Resources, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to rear gopher frog tadpoles from wild-collected eggs until they develop into froglets. They are then released onto a preserve in southwest Georgia.
  - The eastern indigo snakes at Zoo Atlanta are part of Project Orianne – a reintroduction program in collaboration with scientific organizations throughout the Southeast. A majority of the over 100 snakes that have been reintroduced to Alabama’s Conecuh National Forest were reared at Zoo Atlanta. Prior to the beginning of Project Orianne, the species had not been seen in Alabama for about 50 years. In addition to releasing about 30 snakes a year, other components of the 10-year project include creating monitoring systems and cooperative breeding and land management programs. The project is also addressing habitat loss by purchasing land in south Georgia – about 900 acres to date.
Zoo Atlanta supports native and migratory bird conservation in several ways.
- - We have taken measures to reduce window collisions, such as adding bird tape to buildings with significant glass coverage (i.e. Scaly Slimy Spectacular and the Conservation Action Resource Center [ARC]).
  - We collaborate with local organizations, such as the Atlanta Audubon Society, to host events focused on educating our guests about ways to help birds.
  - In 2019, with support from the Mabel Dorn Reeder Conservation Endowment Fund, Zoo Atlanta added a Motus station on-grounds. This receiver station picks up signals from birds that have been tagged with small radio transmitters, contributing to a network that allows researchers to better understand bird migration patterns.

What can you do to help?

Get to know your local wildlife! There are several mobile apps that help you identify, record and share the wildlife around you, such as eBird by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and iNaturalist, a joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society. For an in-person experience, the Atlanta Audubon Society hosts field trips to local nature sites to teach about Georgia’s resident and migrating birds.
Help protect your local water quality! Fresh water is an essential resource for nearly all terrestrial animals, including humans. You can help keep our local freshwater habitats clean by supporting projects such as Georgia Adopt-A-Stream, a program of the Water Protection Branch of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division that encourages individuals and communities to monitor and/or improve sections of streams, wetlands, lakes and estuaries. At a local level, the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper program works to protect and restore the Chattahoochee River, which is a source of drinking water for more than 5 million people in the Atlanta area.
Brake for wildlife! It is estimated that over 1 million animals are killed or injured on U.S. roadways each year. As you’re driving, especially in wooded areas or near fresh water sources, be aware of animals that may be crossing the road.
Grow native plants in your backyard, planter box, or any space you have available. Native wildlife and migratory birds have adapted to thrive alongside native flowers, shrubs and trees which provide nesting materials and foraging opportunities. Native plants will also require less resources (like water and fertilizer) because they’re adapted to local environmental and climatic conditions.
If you have a cat at home, consider keeping it inside. If you wish to provide your cat safer outdoor experiences, consider training your cat to walk outside on a leash or building or buying a “catio” that will allow your cat free range within an enclosed outdoor space for short periods of time.

How to help native and migratory birds

Help create safe passage for migrating birds by turning off unnecessary lighting between midnight and sunrise during peak migration periods (March 15 to May 31 and August 15 to November 15). You can do this by putting lights on timers, using motion sensors, closing shades or blinds, and dimming necessary lighting. This won’t only benefit birds – it can also help you lower your energy bill.
Shop for shade-grown coffee which provides safe habitats for migratory birds that may spend their summers in Georgia and their winters in Central and South America.
You can help local waterfowl by avoiding them feeding human foods like bread and crackers. These foods can lead to serious health issues and the problems listed above. Even small amounts add up when they are fed often in public parks.

How to help native bats

Promote natural bat habitat around your home by leaving dead and dying trees where they don’t create a hazard. These types of trees are not only favored bat roosting sites; they can also provide nesting sites for carpenter bees and other pollinators.
Install a bat house! Building your own bat house is a great way to get involved in bat conservation. Bat species worldwide are experiencing habitat loss, but building artificial roosts can give bats a safe and comfortable place to live. Better yet, if bats move in, they’ll help with pest control in your yard.

Additional Information

There are five species of birds in the sate of Georgia listed under the Endangered Species Act, including the ivory-billed woodpecker which has not been seen in the wild since 1944. Many other bird species are under state protection.
Cats are a primary host of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which causes the disease toxoplasmosis. Most warm-blooded animals, including humans, can contract toxoplasmosis through ingestion of contaminated soil (for example, after eating unwashed produce) or direct contact with cat feces. Although many humans and animals infected with toxoplasmosis do not exhibit symptoms, the disease can cause serious health problems and even death.
Project Orianne partners include Auburn University, Central Florida Zoo’s Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation, Alabama Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, and The Nature Conservancy.

Recommended resources for additional information

References

Atlanta Audubon Society. (n.d.). Let’s Make Atlanta a Bird Friendly Community! Retrieved May 27, 2020, from https://www.atlantaaudubon.org/loa.html
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. (n.d.). Our Work. Retrieved May 27, 2020, from https://chattahoochee.org/
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division. (n.d.). Bats of Georgia. Retrieved May 27, 2020, from https://georgiawildlife.com/georgiabats
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division. (n.d.). Mountain Bog Restoration. Retrieved May 27, 2020, from https://georgiawildlife.com/conservation/bogrestoration
Invasive Species Specialist Group. (2015). Felis catus. Global Invasive Species Database. Retrieved May 27, 2020, from http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=24
Loss, S., Will, T., and Marra, P. (2013, January 29). The impact of free-ranging domestic cats on wildlife in the United States. Nature Communications, 4, 1396. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2380
The Wildlife Center of Virginia. (n.d.). The Problem with Feeding Ducks. Retrieved May 27, 2020, from https://www.wildlifecenter.org/problem-feeding-ducks
Zoo Atlanta. Eastern Indigo Snakes Reintroduced to the Wild. (2017, July 14). Retrieved from https://zooatlanta.org/eastern-indigo-snakes-reintroduced-wild/

Updated May 2020

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