Maureen Murray, Ph.D.
Lincoln Park Zoo
Maureen Murray, Ph.D.
Maureen has been the Wildlife Disease Ecologist at Lincoln Park Zoo’s Urban Wildlife Institute since 2017. Her research focuses on how living in cities can affect the health of wildlife, ultimately affecting people's health and our shared urban ecosystems. Her goal is to use applied interdisciplinary research to prevent negative human-wildlife interactions and the spread of disease to protect both urban biodiversity and public health. Maureen completed her Ph.D. in urban coyote ecology and has studied various species, including rats, wading birds, and grizzly bears. More recently, she is excited to study urban humans’ experiences with wildlife and well-being.
https://www.lpzoo.org/experts/maureen-murray2/
https://www.lpzoo.org/conservation-science/science-centers/urban-wildlife-institute/
Project Summary
Maximizing the Health and Biodiversity Benefits of Chicago’s Community Gardens
Community gardens benefit public health and urban biodiversity, but rat infestations in and around gardens can be challenging. Evidence-based recommendations for rodent prevention are essential, but there has been no research on rats in community gardens. In this project, Maureen is partnering with NeighborSpace and the Chicago Park District to identify which garden features and policies are associated with rats, beneficial insects, and birds. Using these results, Maureen will create workshops to provide gardeners with the tools to prevent rat infestations while increasing urban biodiversity. This project will help support community gardens to develop healthy and biodiverse spaces in Chicago and cities around the world.
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