Do you like seeing wildlife in the city?

City Wildlife

Whilst a lot of wildlife has been driven out of our cities, some adaptable animals have stayed and thrived. Some birds live in the cities, particularly pigeons which find modern high rise buildings a good substitute for sea cliffs. Somehow they manage to persuade us to feed them in parks and squares. Other birds come to feed on the pigeons, for example Pale Male in New York. Seabirds may also live on tall buildings and exploit our rubbish tips. Other birds like starlings roost in the city centres where it is warmer, but may fly out into the countryside to feed each day. Yet others live in our gardens and feed at our bird tables. Bats also sleep in the cities, not just in belfries but often in modern houses. Squirrels live in parks and get us to feed them too.

On the ground in the UK, foxes come out at night and eat scraps. In America, hungry bears raid dustbins, and in Alaska, hungry bears come into town. In other countries monkeys are cheeky raiders, and in some countries they have the run of temples. In India, many elephants live and work in cities, and cows are free to roam.

Some animals pose more than a nuisance. Rats and mice have invaded every city and many homes and other buildings, bringing with them disease. Bird droppings can also be a health risk. Insects can get anywhere, and some use our houses or outbuildings to overwinter. Some of them can cause diseases when they bite us.

Often we provide corridors for animals to migrate into the cities: road and railway embankments, rivers and canals. Without these wildlife corridors fewer animals would be able to exploit our parks and gardens. For some creatures, our gardens form mini wildlife sanctuaries, and the total acreage of parks and gardens can be significant.

Do you have any particularly interesting or dangerous wildlife in your city, town or village?

Crowded India Cities Face Conflict on Cows

To the Hindus of India, the cow is sacred. In cities like New Delhi, however, they cause accidents and other problems. Early this month authorities began evicting the animals from the city, to a mixture of praise and protest. Do you tolerate loose cows or other animals in your city, town or village?

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Do you like seeing wildlife in the city?

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