Challenges of an Urban Habitat

Areas which are marginal for the city's purposes, such as ravines or swampy areas, can provide a haven for migrating or resident wildlife. Roads near such areas can be a hazard, particularly in the spring, when overwintering animals become active again. Pets, particularly dogs and cats, can also endanger urban wildlife. An overly liberal use of pesticides can also be harmful.

Other urban hazards are pollution and hazardous chemicals. Sprawling urban areas also mean motor vehicle traffic and thus air pollution. Urban wildlife is often viewed as something to be controlled or removed.

Typically, preservation of green space is given a low priority in urban planning even though most urbanites realize its contribution to quality of life.

Like living things, cities do not exist independently from the world around them. They take in resources from nature and expel waste. However, urban centres can significantly alter their habitat. The effect of the city extends beyond its borders; larger cities are going farther and farther to dispose of their waste products. In some cases, the city has to deal with toxic waste was which improperly disposed of in the past.

The Oak Ridges Moraine, a huge glacial deposit, which acts like a huge filter for ground water in Southern Ontario suffers from its proximity to the city of Toronto.

The Great Lakes, the largest concentration of fresh water in the world, have suffered due to urban concentration, particularly around the southernmost lakes.

Related Links

• Ottawa's Green Belt
• Tree Canada
• National Arbor Day - U.S.
• Living with Urban Wildlife - Canadian Federation of Humane Societies
• Canadian Urban Institute
• Urban Environments - BBC
• Backyard nature
• Center of Urban Studies - University of Minnesota
• The Wild Side of New York - NATURE on PBS
• Urban Birds - Cornell
• Urban Wildlife Management - southern Texas Wildlife District