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But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

Nine questions about nature in cities

May 5, 2023
31:47

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Wildlife thrives in cities despite human activity, with raccoons being particularly common due to stable food supply and fewer predators.
  • Bears occasionally wander into cities like Burlington, highlighting the need for wildlife conservation and habitat connectivity.

Deep dives

Urban Wildlife and City Nature Challenge

Cities are not just human spaces, but also part of the ecosystem. The City Nature Challenge is a global event where communities compete to document the most species of plants and animals in their cities. Burlington, Vermont participated and documented 584 species in just a few days. Despite human activity, wildlife thrives in cities, with raccoons being particularly common. In a city like Burlington, there could potentially be 15,000 raccoons compared to the human population of 40,000. Urban environments provide food year-round and fewer predators, making them attractive for some animals. However, city animals also face challenges, such as disrupted natural rhythms due to constant lights and increased stress levels.

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