One-third of local councils have rules to stop pet cats roaming because of their major impacts on wildlife. More councils want to get on board but many are hampered by state laws.
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Articles on Urban wildlife
Displaying 1 - 20 of 62 articles
Are our animal companions showing off when they share more than toys with us? And what should we do about it?
Brush turkeys, bats, and cockroaches are crucial for the environment – including our gardens. Each have fascinating ways of coping in wet weather.
Australia now has a target of protecting 30% of its land and sea area. But the challenges of conserving urban biodiversity illustrate why it’s a much more complex task than a simple target suggests.
Urban plantings are part of the solution to living in warmer cities, but most tree and shrub species in the world’s cities will struggle too. The impacts on liveability could be huge.
New research documented 50 different ways Sydneysiders tried to stop sulphur-crested cockatoos opening their bins, from rubber snakes to custom locks. Humans didn’t always win.
Urban coyotes prey on rodents and spread plant seeds. It’s OK to observe them from a distance, but then you should chase them off.
Having so many threatened species live among us in our towns and cities reflects the impacts of urban development but is also an opportunity for us all to pitch in and ensure their survival.
A new study shows that when free-ranging cats are more than a few blocks from forested areas in cities, such as parks, they’re more likely to prey on rats than on native wildlife.
Coyotes are not, by nature, aggressive. But there is a pervasive myth that they are likely to attack unwarranted, and this belief is dangerous to the animals.
Whether you’re hoping to maximise your chances of seeing one of these shy, fascinating critters or wanting to avoid them at all costs, this article is for you.
Bats roost under bridges and culverts across North America, so highway departments have to check for them before repairing bridges. A new AI tool makes those inspections faster and more accurate.
Soundscapes impact the well-being of human and non-human urban inhabitants. Here’s how noise can change animal behaviour, both in and out of lockdown.
Researchers strapped tracking devices to 20 powerful owls in Melbourne and learned these apex predators are increasingly choosing to sleep in urban areas, from backyard trees to golf courses.
Plague-wary Londoners tolerated mischievous red kites and ravens for their services to the city’s sanitation.
Your local ducks (and other wild birds) will thank you.
For every kilometre of road in Europe, you’re likely to find one dead hedgehog.
COVID-19 restrictions led to calls to open up golf courses to the public. But these are such precious refuges for native flora and fauna that access will have to be carefully managed.
Urban green spaces can be a rich habitat for diverse pollinators, if they’re managed properly.
Citizen scientists have helped researchers track the changing environment during the pandemic.
Top contributors
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Senior Lecturer, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne
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Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning, Leader, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group (ICON Science), RMIT University
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Professor in Conservation Science, School of Ecosystem and Forest Science, The University of Melbourne
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University Fellow, The University of Melbourne
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Professor of Conservation Biology, Charles Darwin University
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Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne
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Professor, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney
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Adjunct Lecturer/ Ecologist, University of New England
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Professor of Wildlife Ecology, Australian National University
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Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University
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Regional Deputy Director, British Columbia Node of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative; University Research Associate, Simon Fraser University
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne
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Associate Professor of Urban Geography and Research Lead, Sydney Policy Lab, University of Sydney
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Associate Professor in Biological Sciences, Murdoch University
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Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, University of Sydney
