Bold Squirrels, Clever Raccoons

Probably the most commonly seen animal in cities is the squirrel. Squirrels abound in parks from the central city core to the fringe.They also nest in buildings when they find a suitable niche high off the ground. The gray squirrel is the most numerous species. It is native to the eastern half of the United States from Canada to Florida. Red squirrels and fox squirrels predominate elsewhere, though they may overlap with the gray. Flying squirrels are also common in cities and suburbs, but being nocturnal (active at night), people rarely see them.

Gray squirrels moved into urban communities early in the 1900's, as logging cleared large areas of hardwood forest. These squirrels find everything they need where a few tall trees stand. They build nests of twigs and leaves in forked branches, and in winter they curl up in tree hollows. Trees also provide them with acorns, nuts, and bark to eat. But gray squirrels also help themselves at bird feeders, and whenever they can find them, they eat bird eggs and even chicks.

The main difference between the squirrels' native and adopted habitat is people. Although forest squirrels are extremely shy, those in the city have learned to be quite bold, coming close to people and begging for food. Begging helps urban squirrels survive, but junk-food handouts and fights at bird feeders make their fur scruffy-looking.

Raccoons are among the most prevalent and interesting of the small, furry animals populating the urban landscape. With highly sensitive forepaws that rival the human hand for dexterity, raccoons can open garbage cans with tightly fitting lids and even unlatch doors. In the 1980's, John Hadidian, an urban-wildlife biologist with the National Park Service, spent four years tracking 30 radio-collared raccoons in Washington, D.C. He found that the animals ate anything they got their paws on. About the only thing they would not eat is raw onions.

Hadidian also learned that city raccoons are unusually sociable. Several of the ones he studied lived in the same tree. And the animals clearly did not feel threatened by people. Nearly a fourth of the raccoons established dens in and around houses, though they avoided homes with dogs.