Wildlife sightings aren’t unusual in metro area

An Edmond resident spots a coyote while walking along a trail in her neighborhood. Drivers commuting to and from work along Airport Road often see deer grazing in a pasture.

Such wildlife encounters are common for residents of the metro area.

Some people find it refreshing and enjoyable to spot wild animals in the city. Others consider them a nuisance.

“Like any wildlife when you see it, be respectful of it,” said Dwight Lawson, executive director of the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden.

“It’s more of a matter to learn to coexist with them.”

Whether humans and animals get along in urban areas largely depends on the type of animals and people’s reactions to them.

In Oklahoma City, most of the wildlife population is harmless to humans, said Jonathan Gary, superintendent of Oklahoma City Animal Welfare.

Animal Welfare is often contacted about injured or endangered wildlife.

“Most of the wild animals we see tend to stay clear of humans, and most accidents we see do not cause harm to humans,” Gary said.

Gary said wild animals provide several benefits.

“One of the good things wild animals can provide is pest control,” Gary said.

Urbanization’s effect

But what is it that’s attracting wild animals to urban areas?

A primary factor is food.

“Where there are humans, there is food,” Gary said.

Don Brown, of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, said some animals have learned to adapt to living in urban areas.

“For instance, the opossums, skunks, squirrels and raccoons have figured out how to exploit that habitat and do quite well living there,” Brown said.

Brown offered a different perspective as to why we may be seeing more wildlife.

“Urbanization is expanding into their habitat, which puts us into closer contact with them,” Brown said.

As neighborhoods develop and expand toward the outskirts of Oklahoma City, Brown said, it naturally eats up some of their habitat, causing animals to be displaced.

Lawson said Oklahoma City includes a lot of rural open space and corridors of remote areas that lead to the deeper parts of the city, causing people to see wildlife they might not spot otherwise.

“It is one of those nice things that you can still have green space in the city, and one of the byproducts of that is wildlife,” Lawson said.

One suggestion most wildlife experts agree on is to become acquainted with the wildlife that is most active during each season.

At this time of year, Gary said, they see nests of babies of all kinds.

“Don’t assume that they are abandoned,” Gary said. “Most likely the mother is coming back, just monitor the nest and see.”

To keep you, your property and wildlife safe, Brown offers several tips.

“Keep your lawn mowed, fences secured, don’t leave pet food outside and keep garbage properly contained,” Brown said. “Good lighting at night can also help keep animals away.”

Except for rare cases, Brown said, “wildlife are generally much more afraid of you than you could ever be of them.”