Late one evening in London, a friend sent me a blurry photo: a fox, tail high, trotting casually across a quiet residential street like it owned the place. Minutes later, someone else texted from a Tokyo suburb: raccoons on the roof again.

Neither of them lives in the wilderness. These are busy, concrete-packed cities. But somehow, wild animals are creeping back in—and they're not just surviving. They're thriving. What's going on? Turns out, some cities are quietly becoming wildlife-friendly again. Not because animals are pushing their way in, but because people are starting to let them come back.

Why Are Wild Animals Returning?

It's not just a fluke. What we're seeing is the result of deliberate choices—long-term efforts to repair ecosystems, change how we build cities, and rethink our relationship with wildlife.

In the past, urban growth meant fencing animals out—or worse, removing them entirely. But now, a growing number of places are flipping the script. They're asking: what if cities could welcome wild animals back? What if we stopped treating nature like something to control, and started sharing space instead?

That question has sparked real change. Let's look at a few cities leading the way.

1. London: Foxes in the Front Yard

London's red foxes are no secret. In fact, they're practically locals now. You might spot one weaving through late-night traffic, napping in back gardens, or raising cubs under garden sheds.

But this wasn't always the case. Foxes returned to London in the 1930s, slowly adapting to the noise, traffic, and people. What helped? A patchwork of green spaces—parks, cemeteries, even railway lines—gave foxes space to move and hunt. And crucially, most residents didn't treat them like pests.

Over time, a kind of truce developed. People learned to secure trash bins and avoid feeding foxes directly. In return, the foxes became less shy and more predictable. They're now a strange but accepted part of the urban ecosystem.

2. Tokyo: Raccoons on the Rise

It started as an accident—raccoons, originally imported as pets, were released into the wild and multiplied fast. For years, they were seen as a nuisance. But Tokyo didn't just fight back with traps. Instead, officials tried something different.

They began mapping raccoon activity, identifying hotspots, and working with neighborhoods to adapt. Fencing off certain areas, educating residents on food storage, and redesigning some public spaces made it easier for people and animals to live near each other without constant conflict.

The result? While raccoons are still managed, Tokyo's approach has become less about elimination and more about balance.

3. Yellowstone: The Wolf Comeback

It might not be a city, but no list of wildlife returns is complete without Yellowstone. In the 1990s, gray wolves were reintroduced to the park after being wiped out decades earlier.

What happened next was nothing short of incredible.

Wolves changed everything—not just by keeping elk populations in check, but by triggering a ripple effect. Vegetation returned to overgrazed areas. Birds came back. Beavers thrived. The rivers even changed course slightly due to stabilized banks.

It was the clearest proof yet that when a keystone species returns, the entire ecosystem can heal.

So what's the urban lesson here?

Even in cities, introducing—or protecting—the right animals can create surprising benefits. Think fewer rodents, better biodiversity, and healthier green spaces.

What Cities Can Learn (and Do)?

If you're wondering how your own city could become more wildlife-friendly, here are a few things these examples show:

1. Respect wild boundaries. Don't try to tame or cuddle wildlife. Give them space to behave naturally, and they'll adapt better.

2. Build green corridors. Parks are good—but linked parks are better. Small green routes help animals travel and find food safely.

3. Educate, don't eliminate. People panic when they don't understand. Teaching communities how to coexist makes a bigger difference than traps ever will.

4. Design with nature in mind. Things like native plants, quiet zones, or even low fences can create micro-habitats that support animal life.

5. Be patient. Wildlife recovery takes time. It's not a quick fix—it's a quiet, slow shift. But once it starts, it's powerful.

A New Kind of Neighbor

Cities aren't just for people anymore. As we rethink how we live, we're starting to make space for the wild again—sometimes without even realizing it. The fox on your street, the raccoon in the alley, the owl in the park—they're all signs that we might be getting something right.

And maybe, just maybe, we need them as much as they need us.

After all, isn't a city that makes room for the wild a little more human, too?