Urban Wildlife Management: Coexistence Strategies

As cities expand, urban wildlife populations — from coyotes and raccoons to peregrine falcons and urban deer — require evidence-based management that balances human safety with animal welfare.

Key Facts

Urban coyote populations exist in virtually every major North American city and are increasing in density.
Lethal control of urban wildlife is largely ineffective due to the vacuum effect — removed animals are quickly replaced.
Contraception programs for urban deer have successfully reduced populations in enclosed areas without lethal culling.
Urban wildlife corridors — connected green spaces — reduce road mortality and improve population viability.
Conflict incidents with urban carnivores are almost always preventable through securing food attractants.

Welfare Considerations

Urban wildlife faces chronic welfare challenges including vehicle strikes, poison exposure, entanglement in litter, and persecution when they come into conflict with humans. Management responses that prioritize lethal control cause significant suffering without achieving population control goals. Evidence-based coexistence approaches — securing garbage, hazing education, contraception, and habitat connectivity — achieve human safety goals while respecting animal welfare. Urban wildlife populations also face nutritional stress from human food dependency.

What You Can Do

Secure garbage bins and compost to avoid attracting urban wildlife to conflict zones.
Never feed urban wildlife, which creates dependency and conflict behavior.
Advocate for wildlife crossings and green corridor preservation in urban planning.
Support non-lethal conflict management programs in your municipality.
Report injured urban wildlife to local animal control or rehabilitation networks.