Assignment 2 - Final Squirrel Empathy Exercise
Group members : Panithan (Penny) and Cindy Li
Just the other day, I had the pleasure of spending some quality time with the Eastern Gray Squirrels at Fort Greene Park in Downtown Brooklyn. For anyone who's spent even a minute in a park, you'll know they're much more than just city park inhabitants—they're fascinating creatures with behaviors and abilities that are both intriguing and adorable.
A Little Experiment
Curious about their behavior, I decided to try feeding them some raw pecans. I tossed the nuts close to the base of a tree and watched. The squirrels, ever cautious, eyed me from a distance, their noses twitching as they sniffed the air. Slowly, they approached, moving with a cautious curiosity that was endearing. When one of them finally grabbed a pecan, it wasted no time scampering up a tree to enjoy its treat in peace.
Reflecting on Squirrel Encounters
Observing these squirrels, I couldn't help but think about their perception of the world—and of us. Their quick movements, sensitivity to sound, and reliance on smell must make human movements seem incredibly slow in comparison. It's a fascinating glimpse into the life of one of our most common, yet often overlooked, urban wildlife species.
