The Niche of Urban Habitat

The Niche of Urban Habitat

Sep 24, 2025 | Featured, Flora/Fauna, In the News

Oregon Oak

Submitted by Brendan Addis, Conservation Planner with Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District

The urban world that humans create can have a range of disruptions to the surrounding natural systems. The removal of vegetation, construction of buildings, infrastructure, altered waterways, fragmented habitat, pollution, noise, and light. While we can find ways to mitigate the negative impacts and use more environmentally friendly approaches, the fact remains that our presence has an impact.

For the first time in human history, more than half the world’s population lives in urban areas and the numbers are expected to increase over the next century (Parris. 2016). The same is true for our region, where estimates of growing urban populations give us pause considering what spaces to conserve and how to create urban environments that are healthy spaces, not only for humans, but also with some room to coexist with wildlife.

The urban environment, with its concentration of buildings and infrastructure is not what we typically think of as a space for wildlife, yet there are many species that have found a niche- a “job”, if you will, or role within our human-built environments. These “novel ecosystems”, which have been modified from their natural state, still create opportunities for wildlife to exist.

In some cases, there is even an increase in wildlife opportunities, for some species, as the surrounding urban area provides a mix of plant species, food, and shelter options (Parris. 2016). Creating space in our urban areas for wildlife habitat also provides a benefit to the human inhabitants. 

Oregon Oak

Various studies have shown that the conservation of green spaces and greater ecological diversity within urban settings has been corelated to improved mental and physical health for those living nearby. Being able to create space for urban environments is a benefit, not only to wildlife, but the human inhabitants as well (Gaston. 2010).

There are multiple solutions that can been used to provide urban habitat features. Several ideas to consider for creating better habitat in urban yards and open areas:

  1. Planting native plants will support many of the insects, birds, and wildlife which depend on their fellow native plant species. While many non-native plants that we grow in our yards and gardens can still provide food and shelter, they can also pose the risk of being invasive and forcing out other key habitat species, so it is important to be mindful of what plants you are hosting. Learn more about creating a backyard habitat, trees, shrubs, and pollinator features at backyardhabitats.org
  2. Creating habitat features. How we landscape can take various forms and using an approach to allow for more habitat features can be done in ways that are both beautiful and beneficial. Using rock and wood placements can give shelter spaces. Keeping leaf litter supports the food cycle for insects and birds and helps rebuild soil. Providing sources of water, small habitat piles, bird boxes, bat boxes, and bee houses, there is a range of features you can pick from to support your favorite.
  3. Being mindful of how to mitigate negative impacts is also important. Be considerate of what, when, and if to use insecticide products. Improper applications can have negative ripple effects on the food web. Plan yard work tasks to allow for low impact during nesting season (spring thru early summer) so birds can raise their young. Take a look at “Catios” or adding a bell to the collar of your feline companions to prevent the preying on birds.

There are a lot of ways to start creating habitat in your urban space, and finding ways to enrich your space not only for wildlife, but for you to enjoy as well.

For more ways to promote urban habitat, or to learn about efforts in your area, consider looking into the following recommendations:

Supporting Habitat Connectivity

Wildlife need the ability to move from area to area, for feeding, raising young, or moving seasonally. Providing spaces and connection between them is invaluable.

Resources on local habitat connectivity:

Support the Conservation of Oregon White Oak trees

Our regional oak trees are islands of habitat for many species and an important tree unique to our area. They take a long time to grow so protecting established oaks and setting aside space for new ones to grow is an excellent way to provide habitat in our local urban areas. Resources on oak conservation:

Oregon Oak

Support efforts to Improve the Health of our Local Watersheds

So many of our species depend on our aquatic environments and helping support healthy watersheds provides a better home for wildlife and humans alike.

Resources on the Lake Oswego watershed:

 Cited above

  • Gaston, Kevin. Urban Ecology. Cambridge University Press. British Ecological Society. 2010
  • Parris, Kirsten. Ecology of Urban Environments, First Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 2016