Wildlife of Brooklyn

Brooklyn is the biggest part of New York City, and it might surprise you to learn that many different animals live there! Even though Brooklyn has tall buildings and busy streets, there are still places where nature grows. The area covers 69.38 square miles, giving space for plants and animals.

We don’t usually think of city animals when we hear the word "wildlife," but this article talks about animals that are special because they don’t normally live where there are so many people and buildings. We won’t talk about animals like rats, pigeons, or cockroaches. Instead, we’ll look at animals that are less common in cities.

Good news! People have been working to help the environment in New York City. Because of this, more wildlife has been seen in recent years. This means Brooklyn is becoming a better home for many animals that need space to live and grow.

Mammals

Beavers

The North American beaver used to live in the New York City area but disappeared in the early 1800s. This happened because people took their fur and cut down trees. In 2007, a beaver was seen in the Bronx, the first in New York City in 200 years. Since then, beavers have appeared in Staten Island, Manhattan, and Brooklyn.

In 2022, people walking dogs at Domino Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, saw a beaver going toward the Williamsburg Bridge. Two police officers tried to catch the beaver but could not.

A city campaign called Wildlife NYC suggests that people watch beavers from far away. The campaign keeps track of where beavers are seen.

Deer

Brooklyn does not have its own deer, but deer sometimes swim over from Staten Island. In 2020, a deer from Staten Island was seen running in Gravesend, Brooklyn. After a long chase, police took the deer back to Staten Island.

In 2011, three deer were found near the Brooklyn side of the Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge.