Increasing conflicts between suburbanites and wild critters battling for habitat prompts urban biologists to find solutions for coyotes, racoons, and feral pigs.
"Destructive feral pigs, coyotes losing their fear of humans, and deer overpopulation rank as the chief "flashpoints" in conflicts between man and nature in Texas' ever-expanding cityscapes, say organizers of the state's first comprehensive urban wildlife conference."
"John Davis, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department urban wildlife biologist, said human-animal entanglements are on the rise statewide, fueled by suburban sprawl and creatures steadily adapting to man."
"Davis said researchers have found it important to identify and locate problem animals such as coyotes that have become dangerously comfortable around humans."
"Experts recommend a completely different solution for the more common problem of pesky raccoons that den in or under houses, Davis said. "We've found that excluding them by sealing off the opening and letting them remain in the area works best," he said."
"Over the last several years, feral pigs have begun invading urban settings, including the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, a 3,600-acre park on the city's northwestern edge."
"He said that once people understood that the 300-pound pigs are a non-native, habitat-destroying species that endangers ground-nesting birds and small mammals, they understood the pigs needed to be eliminated."
FULL STORY: Suburban sprawl pitting man vs. nature, wildlife experts say

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

The French Solution to Congested Tunnels: Make Them Car-Free
Bay Area transportation officials keep expanding car capacity. Lyon’s Croix Rousse Tunnel offers a different way.

Missouri Governor Reverses Anti-Discrimination Housing Policies
A new state law bars cities from prohibiting source-of-income discrimination against tenants using Section 8 housing vouchers.

USDOT Launches Unfunded 'SAFE ROADS' Program
The program targets “distractions” and “political messages or artwork,” and paves the way for autonomous vehicles.
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.
City of Fort Worth
planning NEXT
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie