How does urban development impact wildlife?

Urban development significantly impacts wildlife primarily by fragmenting habitats and increasing human-wildlife conflicts. As cities and towns expand, natural habitats are often divided into smaller, isolated patches, which limits the movement of animals and can disrupt their breeding and feeding patterns. This fragmentation makes it difficult for wildlife to access the resources they need, often leading to decreased populations and loss of biodiversity.

Moreover, with more human presence in previously wild areas, there is a rise in encounters between humans and wildlife, which can lead to negative interactions. These conflicts might include wildlife entering urban areas in search of food, resulting in a variety of issues such as property damage or threats to human safety.

While urban development might introduce new green spaces or encourage wildlife education in some instances, these are generally insufficient to counterbalance the broader negative effects of habitat loss and increased human-wildlife interactions associated with urban sprawl. Thus, the statement about fragmentation and conflict accurately reflects the primary challenges wildlife face in urbanized environments.