This podcast episode explores the significance of conducting a squirrel census in Central Park and how it challenges assumptions about these common creatures. It delves into the deliberate introduction of squirrels into urban spaces, the transformation of urban parks into squirrel-friendly habitats, the historical development and potential overpopulation of urban squirrels, and the unintended consequences of introducing American squirrels overseas. The episode also discusses the shift towards an ecological model of understanding ecosystems and the debate surrounding the treatment of non-human residents in New York City's parks. Ultimately, the squirrel census highlights the desire to coexist with the multi-species environment and appreciate the diverse inhabitants of our world.
