Bears in the Backyard: Big Animals, Sprawling Suburbs, and the New Urban Jungle

A conservation scientist explores the increasing intersection between humans and wild animals

Fang and claw have jumped the white picket fence as encounters with cougars in Chicago, alligators in Florida, and bears virtually everywhere have become increasingly commonplace. As cities and suburbs sprawl, and conservation efforts enable wildlife populations to recover, large wild animals are encroaching on human turf. These creatures might be thrilling to see, but they can bite, scratch, and ev...