Cities are driving evolution

[Catherine]

A recent study has shown that life in the cities is driving species to evolve. Some are just adapting to the conditions. Birds are developing longer beaks adapted to eating from bird feeders. Some have developed and immunity to our poisons. Rats, mice, cockerel roaches and bed bugs are no longer harmed by chemicals that used to kill them. 
It may be possible that new species will develop over time. 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/urban-...-1.4383733


We have thought of evolution as something that happens over long periods of time. Clearly it can happen at a much faster pace. 
Think about the changes in raccoons. Country raccoons find normal food sources and live in hollow trees an other dens. City raccoons understand about garbage day  and they know how to open most bins. They will enter houses by open windows and open cupboards and frigs. They take lids off jars. A friend came home unexpectedly in the middle of the day and found a raccoon sleeping on his bed. It came in an open window. We got it to leave by the door, but it was back in the window in minutes.

I feel like those of us who live in cities are living in a science experiment. Only time will tell how much evolution is taking place.
It isn't survival of the fittest, it is survival of the most adaptive.