Cities Bargain With Returning Wildlife

Large wild animals are increasingly reappearing in and near cities — from humpback whales in New York Harbor to mountain lions and black bears in Los Angeles suburbs. That comeback is driven by successful conservation measures and changing animal behavior, and it creates new, concrete policy choices about infrastructure (wildlife crossings), public safety, nuisance management, and who pays for coexistence. — Urban planners, public‑safety officials, and conservationists will have to negotiate visible tradeoffs between the prestige of restored megafauna and real risks/costs to residents and property.