Ed Huntress wrote:

I have an offbeat reaction to all of this intrusion. For a large part of my
life I lived in rural areas, and I've been a hunter most of my life. On one
hand I love seeing the wildlife moving in. On the other hand, it feels a
little like being invaded by immigrants.

New Jersey has some perigrine falcons back here now, and some bald eagles,
and so on. A sharp-shinned hawk hunts in my back yard. It all feels very
strange and unnatural. Wild turkeys that won't move until you practically
kick them are unnatural. Deer running down streets are unnatural. Black
bears that have so taken over some state parks that you can't leave your
campsite are unnatural. At least, they're unnatural for New Jersey. Out west
or in the deep south, I love to see them. Then I like to go home when I've
had enough of coyotes keeping me awake half the night.

I know what you mean. I grew up in the Cascade Mountains
and saw far less wildlife than I do now, in the Sacramento
Valley. I've seen swenson's hawks, burrowing owls, barn
owls, unknown species of falcons, a pair of young Golden Eagles,
adult, yearling and pup coyotes, possum nests with babies,
raccoons and thousands of ground squirrels and voles.

All between my house and I-80, about 500 feet away.