The WILD Lab is an applied research and outreach initiative dedicated to advancing the welfare of wild animals in urban environments. Our work aims to understand how urban infrastructure, land use, and development practices affect the lived experiences of wild animals in cities—and how local governments and communities can respond. By generating new knowledge, supporting evidence-based policymaking, and engaging diverse stakeholders, the WILD Lab seeks to catalyze positive change and create more equitable and sustainable cities for all stakeholders, including nonhuman animals.

New York City is home to millions of humans—and countless wild animals. Its unique infrastructure and ecology make it a perfect laboratory for studying the effects of local development practices on wild animals. Using NYC’s buildings and urban spaces as a case study, the WILD Lab conducts rigorous, impact-oriented scientific and policy research to understand and improve the welfare of wild animals locally. Through place-based research and engagement with stakeholders from multiple sectors, we aim to identify and build support for interventions that have the potential to provide benefits to all New Yorkers.