Wildlife in the city (Kirkwood, Clayton: power lines, house, neighborhoods)

[1greatcity]

Has anyone noticed an increasing variety of wildlife living in the city of St Louis? I've lived here for many years, and for a long time, the only wild animals I ever saw were birds, squirrels, rabbits, possums and mice.
But a few years ago, I encountered a fox in Tower Grove Park. I was walking my dog at the time, and it startled me. Not knowing if the fox was hungry, rabid, or what, I grabbed my dog and headed toward Arsenal.
Yesterday, there was a family of racoons hanging out by a tree on my street. Racoons in the city! I hear that a racoon can easily kill a pet dog. Not to mention causing lots of damage to one's home and property.
I wonder: Have these critters always lived in the city (and I just didn't realize it)? Or are they migrating here in search of food?
Has anyone else encountered wildlife in the city?

[inahandbasket]

Originally Posted by 1greatcity

Has anyone noticed an increasing variety of wildlife living in the city of St Louis? I've lived here for many years, and for a long time, the only wild animals I ever saw were birds, squirrels, rabbits, possums and mice.
But a few years ago, I encountered a fox in Tower Grove Park. I was walking my dog at the time, and it startled me. Not knowing if the fox was hungry, rabid, or what, I grabbed my dog and headed toward Arsenal.
Yesterday, there was a family of racoons hanging out by a tree on my street. Racoons in the city! I hear that a racoon can easily kill a pet dog. Not to mention causing lots of damage to one's home and property.
I wonder: Have these critters always lived in the city (and I just didn't realize it)? Or are they migrating here in search of food?
Has anyone else encountered wildlife in the city?

Having been in U City for almost two months we have a TON of squirrels and rabbits in the University Park neighborhood. Just saw an opossum about a week ago and today, some redtail hawks. Nothing more exotic, though. We don't have to worry about running into deer anymore like we did living out in West County just west of Queeny Park.

[MUTGR]

I actually saw a deer making its way in those neighborhoods between South Broadway and 55 in the Carondelet area just a couple of months ago. I think it was around Virginia where I saw it.

[aragx6]

Unless your dog started something with the racoon, I think they're very unlikely to hurt your animal. They're foragers by nature -- much more likely to get in your trash can and make a huge mess. I'd imagine they'd love city living -- they thrive on garbage.

Foxes are more rare -- I've never seen one in the city, but we used to see them fairly regularly in the county.

When I lived in Chicago there was a a freaking Cougar running around the city (cops eventually shot him) and there have also been coyotes as well. They're both lone animals, and it was crazy to seem them in such a dense town.

[topospace]

I always chuckle when people in the city freak out about seeing animals. I didn't grow up in a city, but at home, we've had many moose, elk, buffalo, black bears, two grizzles, a wolf & many other animals stroll by the house. For a few years, we had a female moose and her twin babies who would come hang out in the front yard every day. We put a water tub on the front porch and they would drink out of it. Eventually, they would let us reach out of the front door and pet them. Good times.

[MUTGR]

I see all sorts of stuff in Kirkwood. I've seen a couple of foxes. A hawk landed on my back fence yesterday when I was sitting outside. I've seen plenty of raccoons and opossums. I've mostly heard local owls. I've got a family of chipmunks living under my front porch. We've had plenty of garter snakes in our yard over the years.

The strangest thing I saw was an opossum at night walking along the power lines during a rainstorm.

[moorlander]

I've seen wild Turkey and fox here in Clayton.

At my parents house in Des Peres you get coyotes, deer, quail, foxes, pheasant, and racoons.

[topospace]

I've seen the usual city wildlife here in Ladue. The scariest thing I see are the soccer moms speeding around in their Range Rovers.

[Chicago76]

Originally Posted by moorlander

I've seen wild Turkey and fox here in Clayton.

When I was in undergrad at Wash U, a group of us were enjoying a nice day with a few beers in the Brookings quad when a turkey decided to drop in. A couple of idiots thought it would be a good idea to try to "catch" the turkey. For those that don't know: don't mess with turkeys. The are mean, and between their beaks and their spurs, they can really mess someone up.