Urban Ecology

When most people think of nature, they think of pristine wilderness or a patch of woods somewhere in the country. But nature is all around us, even in cities and towns. Large chunks of the natural world often go unnoticed simply because they are so familiar as to become invisible. This week Nature Minute introduces you to the wonderful world of urban ecology. For ecology purposes, "urban" refers to any developed area, not just inner cities.

            Most of the wild mammals you meet in our neighborhoods are considered a nuisance. Raccoons are infamous scavengers that thrive on garbage can buffets, while mice and rats make our homes their own.  Even charismatic animals like deer (eating our gardens and crashing our cars) and bears (raiding or trash cans and generally being scary) are a nuisance when they leave “the wild” and come into our communities.

Black-tailed deer in my back yard

            Then there are the animals you don’t meet. Crows and pigeons are all over the place yet we overlook them because they are so common. Coyotes have adjusted to our cities and towns, yet remain under the radar, earning them the name “ghost dogs”. I see their scats all the time, but I’ve only seen three coyotes in ten years.

            Squirrels, chipmunks, and many species of songbird live in our yards, but they live so close to our homes many people don’t even consider them when thinking of examples of wildlife. They may be used to being around people but they certainly aren’t tame.

Eastern gray squirrel outside my apartment

            Insects and plants also fall into the realm of the wild, though very few people would ever call a beetle, worm, or shrub wildlife. However, these organisms are the base of the food chain and in the absence of garbage, sustain the larger critters that share our neighborhoods.

Baby barn swallows nesting in a hole in wall of my house

            How can you make our urban areas more hospitable to wildlife? The National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat program is one way to start making a difference. Turn your yard into habitat by providing food, water, shelter, places to raise young, and using sustainable practices. In many areas, habitat is severely fragmented, and by turning your yard into a habitat island you can help wildlife move from place to place. Learn more at www.nfw.org or by asking me!