Between the urban and the natural: Wildlife in the Peripheries

Learn about the animals that inhabit the outskirts alongside Mariana Herrera in the article Between the Urban and the Natural: Wildlife in the Peripheries.

At the boundaries where nature meets the urban sprawl, two emblematic figures of resilience survive: the garden snake (Thamnophis spp.) and the raccoon (Procyon lotor). More than mere inhabitants of the periphery, these animals embody the remarkable ability of wildlife to adapt and persist in landscapes transformed by humans.

More than just peripheral dwellers, these animals reflect wildlife’s remarkable ability to adapt.

Their existences—interwoven between the wild and the urban—not only enrich biodiversity but also offer a unique window into the complex dynamics that connect the city with its surrounding ecosystem. Through an exploration of their biological traits and distinctive behaviors, this section reveals the crucial ecological importance of these species and invites a deep reflection on the urgency of their conservation, as guardians of a natural balance at the frontiers of our development.

Bibliografía / Bibliography

1. Signoret, Nicolas, et al. “Distribución y uso de hábitat de Thamnophis pulchrilatus (Cope) (Squamata: Colubridae) en el Estado de Puebla, México.” Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 87, no. 3 (2016): 841-50. Accedido el 9 de noviembre de 2025. https://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0065-17372016000300390. 
2. iNaturalist México. “Thamnophis eques.” iNaturalist México. Accedido el 9 de noviembre de 2025. https://mexico.inaturalist.org/taxa/28406-Thamnophis-eques. 
3. iNaturalist. “Guide to Thamnophis spp.” iNaturalist. Accedido el 9 de noviembre de 2025. https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/505759. 
4. Animalia.bio. “Common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis).” Animalia. Accedido el 9 de noviembre de 2025. https://animalia.bio/es/common-garter-snake. 
5. Especiesde.com. “Mapaches.” Especies de Animales. Consultado el 6 de noviembre de 2025. http://especiesde.com/mapaches/
6. iNaturalist México. “Procyon lotor.” iNaturalist México. Consultado el 6 de noviembre de 2025. https://mexico.inaturalist.org/taxa/41663-Procyon-lotor

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. “Procyon lotor (Mapache norteamericano).” Repositorio Universitario (RU-UNAM). Consultado el 6 de noviembre de 2025. https://ru.dgb.unam.mx/server/api/core/bitstreams/ddea0426-6167-40cc-8394-707e0c69b5f7/content