Cities are often thought of as concrete jungles, devoid of wildlife. But in reality, urban areas are home to a surprising variety of animals, from birds and squirrels to coyotes and deer.

These urban wildlife populations have adapted to the unique challenges of living in a human-dominated environment. They have learned to find food and shelter in urban landscapes, and they have developed strategies to avoid predators.

Challenges

Despite their resilience, urban wildlife faces a number of challenges, including:

• Habitat loss: As cities expand, natural habitats are destroyed, making it difficult for wildlife to find food and shelter.
• Pollution: Air pollution and water pollution can harm wildlife and make it difficult for them to survive.
• Predation: Domestic cats and dogs are major predators of urban wildlife.
• Human-wildlife conflict: As humans and wildlife come into closer contact, conflict can arise, such as when wildlife damages property or poses a threat to human safety.

Conservation

There are a number of things that can be done to conserve urban wildlife, including:

• **Protecting habitat:** Conserving and restoring natural areas in cities provides wildlife with places to live and breed.
• Reducing pollution: Reducing air and water pollution can improve the health of wildlife and make it easier for them to survive.
• Managing predators: Managing domestic cat and dog populations can help to reduce predation on urban wildlife.
• Educating the public: Educating the public about the importance of urban wildlife can help to reduce human-wildlife conflict.

By taking these steps, we can help to ensure that urban wildlife continues to thrive in our cities.