Resource Urban Wildlife in Philadelphia

How many of these 6 Philly critters have you seen??

Squirrels - Philly was the first major US city to reintroduce squirrels which had mostly left due to industrialization and intentional eradication. Squirrels were first reintroduced in 1847 at Franklin Square. The type of squirrel most common in Philadelphia is the Eastern Gray Squirrel which can also have black fur!

Pigeons - Pigeons are domesticated animals, much like dogs or cats, but are not native to Pennsylvania. Pigeons were domesticated over 5,000 years ago in the Middle East/South Asia. The Rock Pigeon is the pigeon species most commonly seen in Philadelphia.

Deer - White-tailed deer are native to Pennsylvania and Philly. Deer are found in less dense parts of Philadelphia, such as Fairmount Park. Each winter, the Department of Parks & Recreation hires biologists & professional sharpshooters to conduct deer control activities. The city donates venison to local food banks. Deer were even spotted on Penn’s campus during the Covid-19 Pandemic!

Groundhogs - Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are a member of the rodent family. They are commonly found around PA, including Philly. The famous Punxsutawney Phil, lives in Punxsutawney, PA, which is about 4.5 hours away from Penn. Every Groundhog’s Day (February 2nd) he makes a weather prediction on how long winter will last! Groundhogs have been seen at Penn Park and outside Hayden Hall.

Eastern Cottontail Rabbits - The eastern cottontail rabbit, Pennsylvania’s most common rabbit species, can be found in both forests and cities. Rabbits can be found in quieter areas of Philly where there is enough room for them to shelter in burrows or thick brush. Most wild eastern cottontail rabbits die within a year but, they have the potential to live up to 4 years.

Spotted Lanternflies - The Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive insect from Asia. It was first seen in Pennsylvania in 2014. If you see a Spotted Lanternfly, KILL IT! Spotted lanternflies can cause serious harm to vegetation, but are harmless to humans. They can cause trees to ooze sap and to develop black sooty mold.