In this informal dinner speech associated with the First Vertebrate Pest Control Conference, the Dean of Agriculture at the University of California - Berkeley discusses in broad terms how man has changed the environment, especially in California, that has led to new and diverse conflicts with vertebrate pests. He provides examples of new and emerging vertebrate pest conflicts that involve agriculture, public health, and other concerns. He describes the University of California’s efforts in this area, which lag behind research and teaching in some of the other pest disciplines. These include a new curriculum in wildlife management being developed at UC Davis, an added faculty position specializing in teaching and research and wildlife, as well as expanded facilities on the Davis campus.