As cities expand into natural habitats, urban wildlife like cougars face increasing challenges. One innovative solution to support these elusive predators is redesigning outdoor seating in urban areas to double as wildlife-friendly spaces. Here’s how it can work:

1. Elevated and Concealed Structures: Designing benches or platforms with hidden compartments beneath can provide cougars with temporary shelter or observation points, mimicking their natural preference for elevated, secluded spots.

2. Native Plant Integration: Surrounding seating areas with dense, native vegetation offers cover and hunting opportunities, blending urban furniture into cougar-friendly ecosystems.

3. Noise and Light Mitigation: Using materials that absorb sound and avoiding bright lighting near seating can reduce stress for cougars, encouraging them to navigate urban edges safely.

4. Corridor Connectivity: Strategically placing seating along wildlife corridors—such as greenways or riverbanks—helps cougars move through cities without confrontation.

5. Public Awareness: Incorporating educational signage near seating can foster coexistence by teaching residents how to respect cougar habitats.

By rethinking outdoor seating as more than human-centric, cities can become allies in cougar conservation, proving that urban design and wildlife survival can go paw-in-paw.