Animals have to share the planet with human beings. We humans have not made it easy for them. Many animals suffer at the hands of hunters, or lose their habitats to our needs. Some animals, however, have learned to live in habitats that humans have created. These include cities, gardens and farmland. Not all these animals are welcome. Some have become pests. They spread diseases or destroy crops.

City animals

Birds use roofs, gutters and chimney pots as nesting sites in cities. Bats gather in warm attics or empty buildings. The warm air given off by houses, offices and factories draws flocks of birds into cities on winter evenings.

​​​​​​​City pigeons are common in many towns and cities. They are descended from pet pigeons, whose wild ancestors are the rock doves. These birds use cliffs and rock ledges for roosting in the wild. Their city relatives roost on rooftops instead. The pigeons have changed their diet to include scraps and pieces of bread thrown to them by people.

Farmland

Some animals have adapted to life in fields of crops and meadows. Rabbits, mice and many kinds of bird feed and nest among the crops and hedgerows. Birds of prey, such as kestrels, hunt for small animals such as voles and mice hiding in the grass.

Pests

Insect pests attack crops, or cause damage to homes and other buildings. Termites and some beetles feed on house timbers, while clothes moths make holes in our clothing. A number of insects are very useful to us. Bees are vital for the pollination of plants.