What Can Urban Wildlife Teach Us About Shared Spaces?

Coyotes in city parks. Raccoons in storm drains. Hawks perched on skyscrapers. As urban areas continue to expand — more than 80% of Americans now live in metropolitan regions that overlap with known wildlife corridors, according to the 2020 U.S. Census — urban wildlife is adapting to life in proximity to people. In cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and Boston, coyotes, foxes, and even bobcats must learn to navigate traffic, artificial light, and human noise. Nyeema Harris, the Knobloch Family Associate Professor of Wildlife and Land Conservation, is asking how humans, too, can adapt. Her studies in Detroit, which were recently featured in an episode of PBS’s Wild Hope, and other metropolitan areas demonstrate that small changes in urban design, waste management, and pet ownership can significantly contribute to fostering peaceful coexistence between humans and urban wildlife . She recently spoke with YSE News about how humans and animals can share city spaces more safely and sustainably.

Faculty

Nyeema Harris Knobloch Family Associate Professor of Wildlife and Land Conservation

Q. Your research suggests peaceful coexistence between people and carnivores is possible with better planning. What are some practical steps communities can take to share urban spaces more effectively with wildlife?

In cities, we have the capacity to manage disturbances, including light, noise, and reflective surfaces as we design residential and commercial properties. With our pets, we need better control over their outdoor time and to clean up after them. But most importantly, a national campaign or gamifying strategy for waste management is necessary. This may require more trash pickup services and workers, or innovations for waste reduction and containment.

Q. One of the findings you highlight in your research is that domestic dogs can influence coyote behavior in urban areas. What does this reveal about the relationships between humans, pets, and urban wildlife?

The pervasive interactions among humans, pets, and urban wildlife highlight the heightened responsibility of pet owners and city officials. For pet owners, managing cats and dogs to minimize their harm and ultimately reduce the competition they pose to our wildlife neighbors. City officials should be investing more in maintaining high-quality green spaces, with distinct forested and naturally vegetated areas, versus trails to limit human use. Instead, parks, because they are multiuse spaces, should be designed in that manner. This would result in areas within a park that prioritizes human needs while other areas prioritize wildlife. Well-designed trails can limit where humans go and ideally minimize negative effects on wildlife habitat. Additionally, more resources are needed to control and rehome feral populations of cats and dogs.

Q. The PBS Wild Hope episode offers a fascinating look at wildlife returning to Detroit. What do you hope viewers take away from seeing animals such as coyotes and raccoons not just surviving, but adapting and thriving in urban environments?

Arguably, most humans are urbanites, meaning our habitat is the city. And yet we are increasingly navigating unfamiliar environments with changing climates and more sympatry with wildlife. Therefore, I hope people embrace the ethos of being good neighbors to human and non-human residents. We do not own any space, and we have no territory. As our behaviors directly and indirectly affect wildlife, and sometimes, consequently, as we share space.