Surviving and Thriving

Plenty of smaller animals manage to survive and even thrive in the city. Some animals do well here naturally because they flourish in dirty places -- the City Council's Select Committee on Pest Control estimated in 2000 that rats outnumber people in New York nine-to-one. Other animals, like gray tree frogs and painted turtles, need a little extra help.

That's where E.J. McAdams comes in. He heads Project X, an effort by the Urban Park Rangers to reintroduce "extirpated" animals to New York, or animals that have died out in the area. Last fall, he and other rangers released 18 screech owls into Central Park, hoping they would mate and once again fill the park with their strange, horse-like calls. (Click here to hear a recording of screech owl calls.)

"I think with urbanization, most people have come to think nature is something you have to drive two hours to find, or it's on TV, on the Discovery Channel."

In other parks, the rangers work to make the surroundings less city-like, and more like the animals' natural habitats.

"We're trying to bring back some balance to the urban ecosystem," McAdams said.

McAdams imports only animals that once lived here. Other city residents sometimes bring non-native animals into the parks, something animal experts warn against.

While not the alligators of urban legend, packs of wild (feral) dogs live in many of the city's parks. And roosters and chickens sometimes wind up in parks as part of Afro-Latino Santeria rituals, Pendergrass said. When that happens, Pendergrass has to chase them -- not her favorite part of the job. She would prefer to spend her time teaching urbanites about the animals living in New York's parks.

"I think with urbanization, most people have come to think nature is something you have to drive two hours to find, or it's on TV, on the Discovery Channel," said Rodney Johnson, a science educator for the Police Athletic League. "But the fact is, they can find an appreciation for nature in the city."

Giving up an unsuccessful hunt for coyote in Inwood Park, Pete Millan paused along the path and stretched his arm towards a tiny bird. He waited, holding as still as he could. And then in a quick swoop, the bird landed gently on his hand.

"Look!" Millan said, elated. "That's something I'm not going to forget for a long time."

The Little Bugs that Could

Living alone? Probably not.

From the bed bugs that bite us late in the night to the Indian Meal Moths that infest our food, we share our apartments and homes with a universe of tiny creatures.

Insect infestations have risen over the past two years, says Lou Sorkin, an entomologist at the city's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation.

Bedbugs, which migrate from pigeons into apartments through open windows and air conditioning vents, are an especially growing population.

"A lot of people have unexplained bites," Sorkin said. "They just come and feed on your blood."

Besides beds, closets and kitchens are inviting habitats for insects. Carpet beetles munch on fur coats and down comforters. Indian Meal Moths hatch their families in cereal. And Tobacco Beetles feed on dried spices and teas.

The only way for people to control and prevent insect infestations at home, Sorkin said, is to have their apartments sprayed monthly by exterminators.

Animal and Nature Links:

The Harbor Estuary: A national conservation effort to protect NY Harbor.

Central Park Conservancy: Non-profit group that helps maintain the park.

NYC Parks: Information on the city's parks.

The Linnaean Society: Local natural history group.