Urban Wildlife and Human-Animal Coexistence

As cities expand and wildlife adapts to urban environments, developing coexistence approaches that serve both human and animal welfare is increasingly important.

Key Facts

Many wildlife species have adapted to urban environments with larger populations than rural areas
Urban wildlife faces novel hazards including vehicles, pesticides, and domestic animals
Urban coyotes, foxes, and deer are often healthier and better-fed than rural counterparts
Human feeding of urban wildlife creates dependency and increases conflict risk
Urban green corridors provide essential habitat connectivity for urban wildlife populations

Welfare Considerations

Urban wildlife welfare requires managing the interface between human infrastructure and animal adaptation. Animals that successfully colonize urban environments often do so by tolerating human proximity, which creates new welfare risks from direct human interaction. Feeding creates artificial dependency, loss of appropriate fear, and food insecurity when feeding stops. Providing habitat through green space, reducing hazards through vehicle speed management, and maintaining appropriate social distance protects both urban wildlife welfare and public safety.

What You Can Do

Plant native species in gardens to support urban wildlife habitat and food sources
Avoid feeding urban wildlife to prevent dependency and conflict
Support urban planning that incorporates wildlife corridors and green spaces
Advocate for urban pesticide reduction programs that protect wildlife from secondary poisoning