Wildlife of Brooklyn

Brooklyn is the most populous area of New York City, and it may surprise you to learn that it is also home to many different kinds of animals! Even though Brooklyn is a busy city with tall buildings and busy streets, there are still places where nature thrives. The borough covers 69.38 square miles, providing space for many plants and animals to live.

We don’t always think of city animals when we hear the word "wildlife," but this article looks at animals that are special because they don’t usually live in places with so many people and buildings. You won’t read about animals like rats, pigeons, or cockroaches here — instead, we’ll explore the animals that are less common in cities.

Luckily, people have been working hard to help the environment in New York City, and because of this, more and more wildlife has been seen in recent years. This means that 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 vanished in the early 1800s because people took their fur and cut down trees, destroying their homes. 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 heading toward the Williamsburg Bridge. Two police officers tried to catch the beaver in a cardboard box but couldn’t.

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 population, but deer sometimes swim over from Staten Island, where there are a few white-tailed deer. In 2020, a deer from Staten Island was seen running in Gravesend, Brooklyn. After a long chase, police sedated the deer and took it back to Staten Island.

In 2011, three deer were found near the Brooklyn side of the Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge. One deer had twine tied around its back legs.