Helping humans and wildlife coexist, with Suzanne MacDonald, PhD

Urban environments fundamentally reshape animal behavior, forcing species to adapt to human infrastructure and resource availability. Raccoons, known for their dexterity and problem-solving, thrive in cities by navigating trash containment systems, creating an evolutionary arms race with human residents. Dr. Suzanne MacDonald, a professor of psychology at York University, highlights that urban living provides sufficient resources for animals like crows and raccoons to engage in play, a behavior usually reserved for younger animals. While crows demonstrate advanced cognitive abilities, including the capacity to recognize individuals and hold grudges, wild animals remain unsuitable as pets due to their inherent destructive nature. Evidence-based conservation, such as designing wildlife corridors for turtles or providing cognitive enrichment in zoos, remains essential for fostering peaceful coexistence between humans and wildlife as habitats increasingly overlap.