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<i>Escherichia (E.) coli</i> is a fecal microbe that inhabits the intestines of endotherms (primary habitat) and the natural environment (secondary habitats). Due to prevailing thinking regarding the limited capacity of <i>E. coli</i> to survive in the environment, relatively few published investigations exist regarding environmental factors influencing <i>E. coli’s</i> survival. To help guide future research in this area, an overview of factors known to impact the survival of <i>E. coli</i> in the environment is provided. Notably, the lack of historic field-based research holds two important implications: (1) large knowledge gaps regarding environmental factors influencing <i>E. coli’s</i> survival in the environment exist; and (2) the efficacy of implemented management strategies have rarely been assessed on larger field scales, thus leaving their actual impact(s) largely unknown. Moreover, the persistence of <i>E. coli</i> in the environment calls into question its widespread and frequent use as a fecal indicator microorganism. To address these shortcomings, future work should include more field-based studies, occurring in diverse physiographical regions and over larger spatial extents. This information will provide scientists and land-use managers with a new understanding regarding factors influencing <i>E. coli</i> concentrations in its secondary habitat, thereby providing insight to address problematic fecal contamination effectively.