Urban Ecologist

About 15 years ago, Chris J. Schell heard a wild story that would change his life. He learned that in the bustling downtown area of Chicago, Illinois, a coyote had confidently trotted into a Quiznos sandwich shop and made itself at home. It was a hot spring day, and the coyote had hopped into the chilled drinks display, curled up among the bottles of juice and soda, and settled down for a nap before authorities came to relocate the animal.

Most coyotes in urban areas try to avoid humans, so the boldness of the coyote in Chicago was remarkable. “I had always seen coyotes in Los Angeles, California, where I grew up,” recalls Schell. “But this was too much. A Quiznos? You can’t make that stuff up!”

Cities are growing at a fast pace. Today, they’re bigger and busier than ever. Wildlife somehow adjusts quickly to live in these changing landscapes. That’s what my lab is curious about. We ask questions like: How does an animal survive in an urban ecosystem? Why would it choose to live there? By understanding how communities of organisms interact with the urban surroundings, we can create spaces that are safer for both wildlife and people.

It’s important to look at the role social policies play in shaping urban environments too. For example, I and other scientists have examined the effects of factors like residential segregation on urban areas. Government decisions shape where people live, often along racial and economic lines. They also affect where green spaces and environmental pollutants end up. That has prevented many folks from accessing healthy environments, which include positive interactions with wildlife.

We place special cameras with motion sensors around the city of Berkeley. When an animal walks by, that triggers the cameras to take photos or record video. These camera traps help us see how animals are interacting, what they’re doing, and where they are. The videos are fun to watch. One showed a raccoon trying to break into the camera’s box!

Other times, we set traps to humanely capture the animals. We collect samples of their blood, hair, poop, and whiskers, which tell us about the animals’ health. We also attach GPS collars, which let us track where the animals go. Coyotes are my favorite urban carnivores to study. They’re scrappy and clever, and their puppies are the cutest.

Some days I’m in the lab, analyzing data we’ve collected. That involves a lot of math. Other times, I’m teaching people such as city officials about urban wildlife. The best days are when my team and I set up cameras and traps in parks, backyards, and train stations. 

Get outside! Make observations about the world around you. Even if you live in an urban area, you can find all sorts of critters, from pigeons and squirrels to owls and snakes. If you look close enough, you can see that wild animals have different personalities, just like people do. And if your curiosity is pushing you to answer a question, follow it. That’s what makes a good scientist.