Conservation biology
Students Uncover the Wild Side of Loyola’s Urban Environment
Despite Loyola's urban location, students don't need to go far to observe a surprising variety of wild animals. During the spring semester, a group of undergraduates set up camera traps and audio bird recording devices on Loyola's Lake Shore Campus and in the nearby Graceland Cemetery to monitor wildlife activity. They captured photos and sounds of birds, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, a skunk, and entire families of coyotes.
Students presented their research on urban wildlife to interested students, faculty, staff, and community members.
The work was part of a semester-long research project on urban wildlife. Mary Dinsmore, PhD, developed the project to give students in her Conservation Biology Lab course practical experience with field research.
"My goal for the course is to have students work together to construct a conservation project from inception to implementation to analysis," said Dinsmore. "I want this project to be hands-on so they can take the skills they gain and feel prepared to be active researchers and conservation practitioners after they graduate."
Green spaces such as parks, golf courses, green roofs, college campuses, and cemeteries provide vital habitat for urban wildlife. Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood has less open space per capita than any other part of the city. Still, within this dense urban setting, the Lake Shore Campus and Graceland Cemetery harbor a surprising variety of wild animals, offering a living lab for the Conservation Biology students.
Before the students set out to study the wildlife, Dinsmore introduced them to some of the tools of the trade. She taught the group how to use the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation (Conservation Standards) as a framework to design and manage their project. Students also learned to use wildlife monitoring equipment and software for project management and data analysis.
Students studied wildlife activity using camera traps, bird monitors, and bat monitors. Megan Wenner and Anna Leigh Tangeman were on the team working in Graceland Cemetery.
In deciding their project's targets, the students chose to focus on small mammals, canids (e.g., coyotes and foxes), and birds. The class of 14 broke into two groups of seven to cover their two study sites: the Lake Shore Campus between Rosemont Avenue and Loyola Avenue and the area within the walls of Graceland Cemetery, two and a half miles south of campus between Montrose Avenue and Irving Park Road.
The groups assessed the habitat quality at each site by examining plant diversity, estimating tree heights, taking soil samples, and noting the availability of food, water, and cover for animals. They took stock of threats to wildlife, including roadways, light and sound pollution, climate change, garbage, and human activities.
For environmental science major Anna Grace, the most exciting part of the project was installing camera traps and bird and bat monitors and then discovering what the devices had recorded.
"When we finally got the first batch of photos, sitting in the classroom and seeing what we got was pretty exciting. We didn't know what was out there," Grace said.
The teams installed seven camera traps on the Lake Shore campus and six at the cemetery. The cameras captured images of squirrels, songbirds, rats, mice, rabbits, and raccoons. They also found coyotes on Loyola's campus for the first time since 2013.
"It was fascinating seeing how the urban canid presence has changed over the two years on campus," said Dinsmore. "In 2024, we observed red foxes on several camera traps throughout campus, while in 2025, we found none. This is most likely because of the pair of coyotes we caught hanging around the Sullivan Center."
Dinsmore noted that coyotes usually displace the smaller foxes when they move into a territory.
The class captured photos of coyotes on campus and at Graceland Cemetery.
Coyotes also appeared in the photos at Graceland Cemetery, where a family of the canids has taken up residence. They accounted for roughly two-thirds of the wildlife photos there. Images and videos showed the animals pacing, stretching, grooming, playing, and eating. The cameras at the cemetery also caught a single striped skunk near the edge of the property. However, the students did not see any rabbits in the Graceland photos or during routine walks through the site. They attributed the lack of rabbits in the cemetery to predation by the resident coyotes.
Bird and bat monitors revealed another layer of data through sound. Students used the devices to record bird songs and ultra-sonic bat echolocation calls and then used software to analyze the results.
"When we analyzed the bat monitor data, we weren't sure if we were going to get any bat species at all," said environmental science major Megan Wenner. "And when we got the output, it said, 'Here are your bat species,' and we had three species. That was amazing."
The group identified six bat species across the two sites, including the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), which is listed as threatened in Illinois.
The teams also deployed three bird monitors at each study location. Their analysis of the audio recordings identified 68 bird species on the Lake Shore Campus and 61 at Graceland. Species included common city birds such as house sparrows and robins and colorful American goldfinches, blue jays, and cardinals. They recorded birds of prey, including Cooper's hawks and Eastern screech-owls, and water birds, including great blue herons, sandhill cranes, and even a trumpeter swan.
Students identified 68 bird species on the Lake Shore Campus and 61 at Graceland Cemetery, including a great blue heron.
Another essential element of the study explored how people relate to the wild creatures around them. The student teams surveyed Loyola community members and Graceland Cemetery visitors about their experiences and attitudes toward urban wildlife. Wenner was surprised that most people surveyed had positive attitudes about the wild animals, including the coyotes.
"There's generally a lot of prejudice against coyotes, wolves, and foxes," she said. "But the staff at Graceland were super supportive of our work, and the people walking in the cemetery would say things like, 'I love the coyotes. I see them every day. I want to learn more.'"
The majority of survey respondents on campus and at Graceland reported that they enjoyed seeing wildlife and would support conservation efforts such as natural landscaping, reductions in pesticide use, and wildlife education programs.
At the end of the semester, the student research teams presented their results to members of the Loyola community, Graceland staff and visitors, and interested neighbors. They shared their observations and recommended actions to conserve wildlife and avoid negative interactions with wild animals.
Conservation recommendations for the Lake Shore Campus included limiting the use of rat poison and road salts that can be toxic to wildlife. The students also reminded people not to treat wild animals like pets, noting that the Loyola wellness center had treated several cases of squirrel bites after students tried to feed or pet the animals.
The team noted the Graceland Cemetery managers could support wildlife there by replacing some sections of turf with more natural landscaping featuring native shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers. Based on strong community interest in learning more about plants and animals found in the cemetery, the team also suggested offering wildlife education programming at the site or incorporating this information into the cemetery's regular tours.
During their research, the Graceland team learned from Shane McKenzie of the Urban Coyote Research Project that a coyote there had died after ingesting plastic waste. To prevent future similar mortalities, the students suggested that the cemetery staff could encourage visitors to leave natural flowers rather than plastic items.
The students concluded their presentation by reminding community members that wildlife is everywhere and simple conservation actions can help people live harmoniously with wild animals.
Wenner said she was thrilled that the presentation drew a large audience in person and online.
"It was so great to have members of the public at the presentation. People are super interested. They want to know what animals are in the city, and it's such a cool discovery process, uncovering the fact that there are skunks, possums, coyotes, and foxes. And I think it's important that researchers tell the public what's there so people will know about the species of birds and bats in the area. People are excited about that," said Wenner.
In addition to opening their eyes to the diversity of urban wildlife, students said the course provided vital field research experience in conservation biology and helped them develop skills that apply in any work environment. Grace and Wenner noted that the project was a valuable exercise in teamwork and project management.
"It took a lot of planning and organization to put the project together and compare data. I'll take those skills with me into future projects," said Grace.
Dinsmore said she was thrilled to see how the students grew over the semester and gained confidence as researchers.
"It's been incredibly gratifying seeing the students become involved, take ownership over the project, and invest their time in studying the wildlife," She said. "Additionally, part of conservation is dissemination and sharing results. It was so rewarding to see the students' professionalism and dedication shine through in their final presentation."
"One of the biggest takeaways I hope everyone can get from this work is that wildlife is everywhere, including throughout urban settings," said Dinsmore. "Campuses and cemeteries are often refuges for wildlife in highly urban environments, so these are great settings for conservation projects and learning about how wildlife behaves, organizes itself, and survives in these unique landscapes. The more we learn about their needs, the better we can manage these spaces, not only for human use but for wildlife to also thrive."
The work was part of a semester-long research project on urban wildlife. Mary Dinsmore, PhD, developed the project to give students in her Conservation Biology Lab course practical experience with field research.
"My goal for the course is to have students work together to construct a conservation project from inception to implementation to analysis," said Dinsmore. "I want this project to be hands-on so they can take the skills they gain and feel prepared to be active researchers and conservation practitioners after they graduate."
Green spaces such as parks, golf courses, green roofs, college campuses, and cemeteries provide vital habitat for urban wildlife. Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood has less open space per capita than any other part of the city. Still, within this dense urban setting, the Lake Shore Campus and Graceland Cemetery harbor a surprising variety of wild animals, offering a living lab for the Conservation Biology students.
Before the students set out to study the wildlife, Dinsmore introduced them to some of the tools of the trade. She taught the group how to use the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation (Conservation Standards) as a framework to design and manage their project. Students also learned to use wildlife monitoring equipment and software for project management and data analysis.
In deciding their project's targets, the students chose to focus on small mammals, canids (e.g., coyotes and foxes), and birds. The class of 14 broke into two groups of seven to cover their two study sites: the Lake Shore Campus between Rosemont Avenue and Loyola Avenue and the area within the walls of Graceland Cemetery, two and a half miles south of campus between Montrose Avenue and Irving Park Road.
The groups assessed the habitat quality at each site by examining plant diversity, estimating tree heights, taking soil samples, and noting the availability of food, water, and cover for animals. They took stock of threats to wildlife, including roadways, light and sound pollution, climate change, garbage, and human activities.
For environmental science major Anna Grace, the most exciting part of the project was installing camera traps and bird and bat monitors and then discovering what the devices had recorded.
"When we finally got the first batch of photos, sitting in the classroom and seeing what we got was pretty exciting. We didn't know what was out there," Grace said.
The teams installed seven camera traps on the Lake Shore campus and six at the cemetery. The cameras captured images of squirrels, songbirds, rats, mice, rabbits, and raccoons. They also found coyotes on Loyola's campus for the first time since 2013.
"It was fascinating seeing how the urban canid presence has changed over the two years on campus," said Dinsmore. "In 2024, we observed red foxes on several camera traps throughout campus, while in 2025, we found none. This is most likely because of the pair of coyotes we caught hanging around the Sullivan Center."
Dinsmore noted that coyotes usually displace the smaller foxes when they move into a territory.
Coyotes also appeared in the photos at Graceland Cemetery, where a family of the canids has taken up residence. They accounted for roughly two-thirds of the wildlife photos there. Images and videos showed the animals pacing, stretching, grooming, playing, and eating. The cameras at the cemetery also caught a single striped skunk near the edge of the property. However, the students did not see any rabbits in the Graceland photos or during routine walks through the site. They attributed the lack of rabbits in the cemetery to predation by the resident coyotes.
Bird and bat monitors revealed another layer of data through sound. Students used the devices to record bird songs and ultra-sonic bat echolocation calls and then used software to analyze the results.
"When we analyzed the bat monitor data, we weren't sure if we were going to get any bat species at all," said environmental science major Megan Wenner. "And when we got the output, it said, 'Here are your bat species,' and we had three species. That was amazing."
The group identified six bat species across the two sites, including the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), which is listed as threatened in Illinois.
The teams also deployed three bird monitors at each study location. Their analysis of the audio recordings identified 68 bird species on the Lake Shore Campus and 61 at Graceland. Species included common city birds such as house sparrows and robins and colorful American goldfinches, blue jays, and cardinals. They recorded birds of prey, including Cooper's hawks and Eastern screech-owls, and water birds, including great blue herons, sandhill cranes, and even a trumpeter swan.
Another essential element of the study explored how people relate to the wild creatures around them. The student teams surveyed Loyola community members and Graceland Cemetery visitors about their experiences and attitudes toward urban wildlife. Wenner was surprised that most people surveyed had positive attitudes about the wild animals, including the coyotes.
"There's generally a lot of prejudice against coyotes, wolves, and foxes," she said. "But the staff at Graceland were super supportive of our work, and the people walking in the cemetery would say things like, 'I love the coyotes. I see them every day. I want to learn more.'"
The majority of survey respondents on campus and at Graceland reported that they enjoyed seeing wildlife and would support conservation efforts such as natural landscaping, reductions in pesticide use, and wildlife education programs.
At the end of the semester, the student research teams presented their results to members of the Loyola community, Graceland staff and visitors, and interested neighbors. They shared their observations and recommended actions to conserve wildlife and avoid negative interactions with wild animals.
Conservation recommendations for the Lake Shore Campus included limiting the use of rat poison and road salts that can be toxic to wildlife. The students also reminded people not to treat wild animals like pets, noting that the Loyola wellness center had treated several cases of squirrel bites after students tried to feed or pet the animals.
The team noted the Graceland Cemetery managers could support wildlife there by replacing some sections of turf with more natural landscaping featuring native shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers. Based on strong community interest in learning more about plants and animals found in the cemetery, the team also suggested offering wildlife education programming at the site or incorporating this information into the cemetery's regular tours.
During their research, the Graceland team learned from Shane McKenzie of the Urban Coyote Research Project that a coyote there had died after ingesting plastic waste. To prevent future similar mortalities, the students suggested that the cemetery staff could encourage visitors to leave natural flowers rather than plastic items.
The students concluded their presentation by reminding community members that wildlife is everywhere and simple conservation actions can help people live harmoniously with wild animals.
Wenner said she was thrilled that the presentation drew a large audience in person and online.
"It was so great to have members of the public at the presentation. People are super interested. They want to know what animals are in the city, and it's such a cool discovery process, uncovering the fact that there are skunks, possums, coyotes, and foxes. And I think it's important that researchers tell the public what's there so people will know about the species of birds and bats in the area. People are excited about that," said Wenner.
In addition to opening their eyes to the diversity of urban wildlife, students said the course provided vital field research experience in conservation biology and helped them develop skills that apply in any work environment. Grace and Wenner noted that the project was a valuable exercise in teamwork and project management.
"It took a lot of planning and organization to put the project together and compare data. I'll take those skills with me into future projects," said Grace.
Dinsmore said she was thrilled to see how the students grew over the semester and gained confidence as researchers.
"It's been incredibly gratifying seeing the students become involved, take ownership over the project, and invest their time in studying the wildlife," She said. "Additionally, part of conservation is dissemination and sharing results. It was so rewarding to see the students' professionalism and dedication shine through in their final presentation."
"One of the biggest takeaways I hope everyone can get from this work is that wildlife is everywhere, including throughout urban settings," said Dinsmore. "Campuses and cemeteries are often refuges for wildlife in highly urban environments, so these are great settings for conservation projects and learning about how wildlife behaves, organizes itself, and survives in these unique landscapes. The more we learn about their needs, the better we can manage these spaces, not only for human use but for wildlife to also thrive."