Urban wildlife encounters increase due to habitat loss; experts advise calm and safety when seeing wild animals.
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Raccoons are increasingly appearing in urban areas of southern Spain, particularly Andalusia, due to complex factors like shrinking natural habitats and increased food sources in cities. These animals pose risks to ecosystems by preying on other species, damaging bird nests, and spreading diseases. Experts note that while some wildlife adapts to city life, others, like raccoons, are dangerous and can attack humans or pets. In Lithuania, similar encounters with wild animals have been reported, leading experts to advise the public not to panic when encountering wildlife. General recommendations include maintaining distance from animals; feeding them is strongly discouraged as it encourages them to stay near human settlements. Authorities advise observing wildlife from afar and contacting emergency services if an animal is injured or behaving abnormally. Furthermore, scientists suggest that many wild species are permanently integrated into urban environments due to habitat loss from agriculture, though some species like raccoons present greater risks.
