Tennessee cities are buzzing with more than just people and traffic these days. Wild animals have quietly made themselves at home, adapting to urban life in unexpected ways.
From backyard guests to late-night wanderers, these creatures are thriving right alongside us. Most go unnoticed—until one shows up on your porch or rummaging through the trash.
I’ve found that understanding their habits helps us coexist more peacefully. After all, we’re sharing more than just sidewalks—we’re sharing space with nature too.
1. White-Tailed Deer
Spotting a deer munching on your garden plants has become almost routine for many Tennessee homeowners. These graceful animals have discovered that city suburbs offer plenty of food and fewer predators than rural areas.
They’re especially fond of ornamental plants, vegetables, and flowers. Early morning or dusk are prime times to catch them browsing.
If you want to protect your garden, consider installing tall fencing or using deer-resistant plants like lavender and rosemary throughout your Tennessee yard.
2. Raccoons
Those mysterious nighttime sounds near your trash cans? Probably raccoons doing what they do best—scavenging for an easy meal. Their clever paws can open latches, unscrew lids, and even turn doorknobs if they’re determined enough.
Tennessee cities provide endless buffets through unsecured garbage, pet food left outside, and compost bins. These masked bandits are smart, adaptable, and surprisingly bold around humans.
Keep trash secured with bungee cords and bring pet food indoors before sunset to discourage their visits.
3. Coyotes
Hearing howls echoing through Nashville or Memphis neighborhoods isn’t your imagination. Coyotes have successfully colonized Tennessee cities, hunting small rodents and rabbits that thrive in urban green spaces.
They’re typically shy around people but can become bolder if fed intentionally or accidentally through accessible garbage. Most sightings happen at dawn or dusk when they’re actively hunting.
Never approach them, keep small pets supervised outdoors, and remove food sources from your property to maintain healthy boundaries with these wild hunters.
4. Red Foxes
With their striking russet coats and bushy tails, red foxes have quietly claimed territory across Tennessee’s urban landscapes. Unlike their country cousins, city foxes have learned to navigate traffic, hide in overgrown lots, and hunt the abundant mice and voles living near human homes.
They’re generally harmless and quite shy, preferring to avoid human contact entirely. You might spot one trotting through your yard at twilight, pausing briefly before disappearing into shadows.
Enjoy watching from a distance but never feed them intentionally.
5. Eastern Gray Squirrels
Acrobatic, persistent, and everywhere—gray squirrels have mastered urban living throughout Tennessee cities. They’ve turned attics into nurseries, bird feeders into personal buffets, and power lines into highways connecting tree to tree.
Their population thrives thanks to abundant oak trees, minimal predators, and unintentional feeding by residents. Watch them perform impressive leaps and problem-solving feats while raiding supposedly squirrel-proof feeders.
Trim tree branches away from rooflines and seal entry points to prevent them from moving into your home’s cozy spaces.
6. Opossums
Don’t let their somewhat startling appearance fool you—opossums are among Tennessee’s most beneficial urban wildlife. These nocturnal marsupials devour thousands of ticks each season, helping reduce Lyme disease risks in your yard.
They’re North America’s only marsupial and are naturally immune to rabies, making them safer neighbors than many assume. When threatened, they famously “play dead” rather than attacking.
If you find one in your garage or shed, simply leave the door open overnight and they’ll waddle away on their own.
7. Wild Turkeys
Seeing a flock of wild turkeys strutting down a Tennessee sidewalk might seem surreal, but it’s increasingly common. These large birds have rebounded dramatically from near-extinction and now thrive in urban edges where forests meet neighborhoods.
They travel in groups, pecking at grass for seeds and insects while occasionally blocking traffic with their leisurely pace. Males display spectacular fan-shaped tails during spring mating season.
They’re generally harmless but can become aggressive if people feed them regularly, so admire them from your window instead.
8. Bobcats
Spotting a bobcat in your Tennessee neighborhood is rare but increasingly possible as these solitary wildcats expand their range into urban fringes. Roughly twice the size of house cats, they sport distinctive spotted coats and short, bobbed tails that give them their name.
They hunt rabbits, squirrels, and birds, typically staying invisible during daylight hours. Most residents never know bobcats share their space until catching a glimpse on security cameras.
If you see one, consider yourself lucky and give it plenty of respectful distance.