Urban Wildlife

ecology-urban-wildlife-habitat-adaptations-animals-green-grade 1-grade 2

This lesson investigates the needs of these creatures and gives students the tools to become more aware of how they share an environment with city-dwelling animals.

Nature awareness in our neighbourhoods

Introduction

Who do we share our homes with?

Cities contain a great deal of wildlife. Animals will live in any area that provides a sufficient habitat (food, water, shelter and space). If you look closely, you will always find something sharing your address, whether in or on your home, or in your backyard.

Objectives

list common animals in their neighbourhood, and describe how they can use their senses to observe these animals e.g.
- hearing bird songs
- feeling the texture of leaves
- seeing wild animals in our backyards
- smelling flowers
list the needs of common backyard species for survival, with a focus on raccoons.
describe similar needs of urban animals and people.
create a birdfeeder

Background

Cities are always growing and its not just humans who are moving in. We create new places for plants and animals to live as we build our homes and neighbourhoods. Some animals even change their “wild behaviour” when they move into a city. These changes in behaviour are called adaptations. Animals have become very good at adapting to city life. Looking closely in the backyard, we may find ants and worms under rocks, birds on sires and raccoons on trees.

Raccoons have adapted well to life in an urban environment. Raccoon fingers can turn doorknobs and open refrigerators and garbage cans. They eat the food that we throw away in the garbage as well as nuts, berries, rats, eggs, mice, insects and frogs. Raccoons are excellent climbers and talented swimmers, but can’t jump over things.