As we expand our cities further out into previously natural areas, we encounter more wildlife in our yards. In the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area, the outskirts of the city butt up against pristine desert habitats. It has become more common to see coyotes roaming the streets. But recently, Stephen Griffin captured a rare sighting, a bobcat in his backyard! Within the same week, another AZ resident filmed a bobcat on his roof with it’s kittens!
Bobcats and coyotes can be dangerous for small pets, so it is recommended to keep your cats indoors and your dogs on leash in these neighborhoods.
Do you have a photo or video of an urban species doing something unusual? What about a rare plant or animal that you were surprised to find in a city? If so, let Lindsay know or Tweet at us and you could be featured as a future observation of the week!
I am interested in urban ecology and evolution. Urbanization can have drastic impacts on local ecosystems, both negative and positive, and creates a new environment for organisms to experience. To understand the impacts that urbanization plays on organisms, I look through the lense of population genetics and molecular evolution.
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