Humans have altered the natural world to such an extent that species and habitats that have previously not interacted are now mixing. One consequence of this is the potential use by species of novel resources that these altered ecosystems now provide. We explored cases of novel resource use, concluding that novel resources may both provide opportunities and incur costs for the species that use them. By being aware of the diverse ways that species use and respond to novel resources, managers may be able to incorporate this information into future conservation plans.