This Is Why Raccoons Thrive In Cities

This Is Why Raccoons Thrive In Cities

Raccoons were imported in Germany for hunting and fur, but they quickly adapted to urban environments. In the German city of Kassel, there are about 100 raccoons per square kilometer. Other living things that thrive in city settings include English ivy and rock pigeons.


Key Facts In This Video

  • 1

    Since the mid-1800s, New York City has lost nearly half of its native plants. (0:01)

  • 2

    The white-footed mice in New York City have grown to have different DNA sequencing than their country cousins. (1:10)

  • 3

    It took six decades for 99 percent of the local tomcod in the Hudson River to evolve a mutation to protect against toxic waste in city water. (1:56)
