"Squirrel: How a Backyard Forager Shapes Our World" highlights the fascinating history and ecological importance of squirrels, revealing how these ubiquitous creatures play a vital role in our environments, both urban and rural. As the conversation continued, Castaldo explored the complicated human-squirrel relationship. While many admire squirrels for their agility and intelligence, others find them frustrating garden and bird feeder raiders. Castaldo emphasizes that this tension stems from squirrels being one of the few wild animals regularly interacting with humans, leading to mixed emotions about these neighborhood residents. Recognizing planners' critical role in shaping wildlife-friendly cities, Castaldo advocates for creating green corridors and connected natural spaces. These efforts are essential not only for squirrels but for entire ecological communities, ensuring both urban and natural environments thrive together.

Show Notes:

Further Reading:
- Buildings that Breathe: Greening the World’s Cities by Nancy Castaldo
- Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino
- Green Obsession: Trees Towards Cities, Humans Towards Forests by Stefano Boeri
- Urban Ecology: Detroit and Beyond by Kyŏng Pak
- Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet by Ben Goldfarb
Learn more about the Central Park Squirrel Census at https://www.thesquirrelcensus.com/
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Marvin Planning Consultants
Serving the planning needs of communities and counties in Nebraska and throughout the Midwest.

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