Urban Wildlife Coexistence: Reducing Conflict and Harm in Cities

Urban wildlife populations are growing globally as cities expand. Managing coexistence humanely reduces suffering for both animals and humans while supporting urban biodiversity.

Key Facts

Urban wildlife including foxes, raccoons, coyotes, deer, and birds of prey are increasing in cities worldwide
Wildlife conflicts in urban areas arise from feeding, habitat modification, and disease transmission concerns
Lethal control of urban wildlife is generally ineffective at long-term population reduction due to immigration of new individuals
Exclusion, hazing, and habitat modification are more effective and welfare-friendly management tools
Urban coyotes have expanded their range across North American cities with minimal human conflict when not fed
Bird-window strike mortality affects up to one billion birds annually in North America, most in urban environments
Urban green corridors that connect parks and gardens support wildlife movement and reduce road mortality
Community education programs that change wildlife feeding behaviors significantly reduce human-wildlife conflict

Welfare Considerations

Urban wildlife suffers both from direct conflicts with humans and from the chronic stressors of city life: traffic, habitat fragmentation, pollution, and artificial lighting. Managing coexistence humanely means resisting the reflex toward lethal control and investing instead in the behavioral and structural changes that reduce conflict at its source. Animals that learn to fear humans appropriate to their risk level — neither dangerously bold nor chronically terrified — achieve the best welfare outcomes in urban settings. Building cities that accommodate wildlife movement, minimize collision risks, and limit food subsidies that create conflict produces better outcomes for animals and residents alike.

What You Can Do

Make your garden or outdoor space wildlife-friendly with native plants, water sources, and shelter
Apply bird collision prevention film or patterns to large glass windows and doors
Never feed urban wildlife in ways that reduce their fear of humans or attract them to roads
Support local wildlife corridor and green infrastructure projects that connect urban habitat patches
Contact animal control authorities to advocate for non-lethal management methods for urban wildlife conflicts
Report injured urban wildlife to licensed rehabilitators and follow their guidance on appropriate assistance