UC DAVIS SURVEY SEEKS GROWER OPINIONS OF WILDLIFE Researchers at the University of California, Davis and the UC Cooperative Extension are launching a survey next week to understand the concerns and expectations that Central Valley farmers have for birds and bats on their managed land.
"We know that growers have a vital working knowledge of their land and the wildlife that shares it," said Katherine Ingram, co-author of the survey and a PhD student in the department of Wildlife, Fish & Conservation Biology at UC Davis. "Birds and bats are found on farms around the Central Valley, and while we study the biology of these animals, we often don't understand the role that they play on farms. This survey will help us do that."
Over 20 bat species and 300 bird species can be found in California, many of which use the state¹s farmland for some or all of their life cycles.
Next week, 500 surveys will be mailed to growers in Butte, Sutter, Yolo, Solano and Sacramento counties. Growers, landowners and managers from anywhere in the state are also encouraged to fill out the survey online at http://wfcb.ucdavis.edu/farmer-survey . Survey participation is voluntary, and all responses will remain anonymous.
"Grower responses to this survey will help us develop research questions and outreach materials that are relevant and meaningful to California farms," said Rachael Long, farm advisor for the UC Cooperative Extension.
About UC Davis
UC Davis is a global community of individuals united to better humanity and our natural world while seeking solutions to some of our most pressing challenges. Located near the California state capital, UC Davis has more than 34,000 students, and the full-time equivalent of 4,100 faculty and other academics and 17,400 staff. The campus has an annual research budget of over $750 million, a comprehensive health system and about two dozen specialized research centers. The university offers interdisciplinary graduate study and 99 undergraduate majors in four colleges and six professional schools.
Contact:
Sara Kross, Postdoctoral research fellow, UC Davis, 415-690-6673,
[email protected]