In the ongoing debate about urban development, some argue that it has little effect on wildlife, while others are concerned it disrupts natural habitats.

Can city dwellers and wildlife coexist as housing shortages lead to more development and the human population grows? According to wildlife biologist Falyn Owens with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, “It depends.”

“It’s really complex,” Owens said Wednesday. “There are some wildlife species that benefit from development, and we tend to see more of those species, and there are other species that don’t do well, and we see less of those. They don’t all react the same to development.”

There are short- and long-term impacts to wildlife when development occurs, according to Owens. For example, if a woodlot is cleared for a housing development and trees are taken down, this could result in increased sighting of wildlife for a few months as the displaced animals seek new homes, she said.

However, these sightings may not persist once construction is completed and over time, wildlife may gradually return to the area if landscaping efforts are made to incorporate shrubby areas and new vegetation for these animals, according to Owens.

“This type of vegetation is fantastic habitats for wildlife,” Owens said. “Twenty years later when people plant flowers and trees, animals will come back.”

Are wildlife sightings increasing?

From March 2023 to Feb. 2024, the NCWRC received 303 calls and emails regarding wildlife sightings in Cumberland County. While several callers expressed safety concerns for songbirds, white-tailed deer and squirrels, other calls were mainly nuisance-related for bears, coyotes and foxes.

Bret Ladrie, human-wildlife interaction biologist at the NCWRC, said that anytime there’s a large-scale development, people will see an increase in wildlife because the animals have been displaced, stating that “development can affect how much people see wildlife in their area.”

While a steady increase can be seen since 2021, the low number of reports in 2020 may have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. According to the NCWRC, there were 123 calls in 2020 compared to 338 calls in 2019 and 226 calls in 2021.

“It’s important to note that species that are less well understood or that are historically feared by people are more likely to be involved in nuisance-related complaints,” Owens said. “Whereas species that people tend to perceive as harmless or cute tend to be involved in reported concerns for their wellbeing and safety, regardless of the animals’ actual behaviors.”

Owens said that many callers may have only just noticed wildlife for the first time, when the reality is that rarely-seen animals like coyotes and foxes may have been present all along but given their elusive nature have gone unnoticed, according to Owens.

Advice to developers to minimize damage

Owens said humans and wildlife can coexist if developers mitigate damages.

“An excellent practice to preserve natural areas is to avoid building right up against waterways or anywhere prone to flooding like a creek or river,” she said. “Those areas are amazing places for wildlife to live and also really important for water quality.”

On the other hand, a bad practice would be to build in areas prone to flooding as that can mess up waterway systems and harm water quality, according to Owens.

“We want developers to contact us because we have specialists whose entire job is to advise,” Owens said. “We also have a tool system called the Green Growth Toolbox and it provides a whole kit and caboodle for sustainable development.”

The Green Growth Toolbox serves as a technical aid to assist communities in conserving valuable habitats while accommodating the ongoing construction of new residences, workplaces, and commercial areas, according to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission website.

This program was created to address the need for assistance in sustainable development practices and over the years, it has been developed through partnerships with nonprofits, federal agencies, and other organizations committed to conservation efforts, according to Owens.

Reporter Lizmary Evans covers growth and development for The Fayetteville Observer. You can reach her at [email protected]