The Year in Urban Wildlife

A roundup of stories about the creatures that share our cities.

1 minute read

December 27, 2023, 8:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Coyote walking down paved road in Los Angeles park.

Coyote in Los Angeles, California. | GDMatthews / Adobe Stock

Writing in Bloomberg CityLab, Linda Poon rounds up some 2023 highlights featuring urban wildlife “To illustrate how our changing cities are shaping the lives of animals.”

The article mentions a bear who wandered into the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, noting that bear activity is increasing around the country as bears seek out food in shrinking habitats. On the plus side, the United States is finally investing in wildlife crossings, with the world’s largest breaking ground in Los Angeles.

In New York, two dolphins were spotted in the Bronx River, “not only a rare treat for New Yorkers but also a sign that the city’s clean-up effort is making progress.” In Chicago, a family of red foxes took up residence in Millennium Park.

See the source article to learn about New York City’s rat czar, a Tasmanian seal, and more animal-related news.

Wednesday, December 27, 2023 in Bloomberg CityLab

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?

As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Hot air balloons rise over Downtown Boise with the State Capitol building visible amidst the high rises.

The Five Most-Changed American Cities

A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.

April 23, 2025 - GoodMigrations

People biking along beach path with moored ship in San Diego, California.

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan

The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

1 hour ago - SD News

Sleeping in Public

Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts

Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.

2 hours ago - KSL

Conductor walks down platform next to Amtrak train at station in San Jose, California.

Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement

An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.

3 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA