More and more ecologists are finding natural wonders in an unlikely place -- the city. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, tales of coyotes in Los Angeles, pigeons on New York City rooftops, and bugs in a desert backyard. Also, why one man left his country cabin to enjoy the sights and smells of Brooklyn.

The cutting edge of ecology is in the city with naturalists studying the wildlife of urban areas. David Quammen is the author of "Wild Thought from Wild Places," a collection of essays about the untamed creatures that live among us. He tells Steve Paulson that Los Angeles is home to a thriving population of coyotes. Also, Orlando Sentinel reporter Cory Lancaster tells Jim Fleming about Disney's latest park -- the 500 acre, $800 million Animal Kingdom which just opened in Florida.

Arizona State University zoologist John Alcock dug up his lawn and created a desert landscape in his front yard so he could study his favorite bugs. He tells Jim Fleming all about it. Alcock is the author of "In a Desert Garden: Love and Death among the Insects." Also, Michael Pollan, editor at large of Harper's Magazine and author of "Second Nature: A Gardener's Education," tells Judith Strasser that he started gardening when he was five and he's still at it.

Charles Siebert is the author of a memoir called "Wickerby: An Urban Pastoral." He tells Steve Paulson why he decided to forsake the city and move to a cabin in the Canadian woods, and why, after five months, he decided a life of rural solitude wasn't for him and he wanted to come back.

Distribution dates:

• week of 05/17/98 - hour 2