Why Does A City As Dense As D.C. Have So Much Wildlife?
'D.C. police found themselves on an unusual chase through Northwest Washington one sunny summer morning; they followed a bear through manicured yards in the Palisades neighborhood. The incident, a few years ago, was the last confirmed bear sighting in the District, though hardly the last sighting of urban wildlife. But how could a bear even end up wandering through the nation’s capital?
Like anyone coming into the city, wild animals have their own “highways” into Washington. These natural corridors, including the C&O Canal, Rock Creek Park and Anacostia Park, are just one reason D.C. and its inner suburbs have an unusual amount of wildlife, despite being some of the most densely populated places in the country.
“D.C. is a remarkable city that has so many amenities for wild animals,” said John Hadidian, who has spent decades studying urban wildlife in D.C., first for the National Park Service in Rock Creek Park, then at the Humane Society of the United States. “It has to stand out as one of the most exceptional cities in the country.”
Washington’s geography and location also play a part. “D.C. has a tremendous variety of habitats and niches for different species to occupy,” said Hadidian. The city is located at the confluence of two rivers, with another major creek running down the middle. It’s also right on the fall line between the Appalachian piedmont region and the Atlantic coastal plain. . .
Washington has the highest percentage of parkland of any densely populated city in the country. . .
“Some squirrels look both ways before they cross the road.”'>>>
https://wamu.org/story/17/12/07/city-dense-d-c-much-wildlife/#.WilOww8E91Y.email
= new reply since forum marked as read
