Tag: animals

creativity

Day 13: Training Dogs to Be Four-Legged Conservationists

Christa Avampato
One of John Rucker’s Boykin Spaniels delicately carrying an ornate box turtle to safety. Photo from Nature Conservancy

I’m hoping that this year I will be able to adopt a dog. My foster dogs have helped me heal from the loss of my soul dog, Phineas. I will never get over losing him, and I’m also ready to welcome another dog into my life for their whole life. One thing I’d love to do with my future dog is to train to be a therapy team in chemo units and for kids reading to dogs programs at the New York and Brooklyn Public Libraries. Today, I learned about another opportunity that I’d love to look into, merging my love of dogs with my love for nature.

When we talk about climate adaptation and wildlife restoration, our minds usually jump to solutions that range from high-tech solutions like satellite tracking or automated drone monitoring to letting nature take her course and reclaim the land and seas. But across the world, some of the most effective conservation tools ever deployed run on four legs—or a quick game of fetch.

Conservation dogs are quietly transforming how we protect fragile ecosystems and wildlife. By training dogs to use their olfactory superpowers—which are tens of thousands of times more sensitive than ours—scientists and local communities are locating endangered species, tracking invasive pests, and stopping illegal wildlife trafficking in fractions of the time it takes human teams. (A mind-blowing fact about the sensitivity of a dog’s nose: Bloodhounds have an olfactory capability that can even reach up to 10 million times as sensitive as ours!)

My love for dogs runs as deep as my love for nature so learning how dogs can promote conservation has me wondering if this is a future career path for me, and a type of work I can do with my future dog. The talent of these pups is a powerful reminder that our smartest path forward often isn’t trying to out-engineer nature or just leaving nature to clean up our mess, but learning how to partner with her for the good of all species, including humans.

Precision Tracking in the Field

The real-world impacts of conservation canines span across oceans, prairies, and geographic borders:

  • Prairie Turtle Monitors: At The Nature Conservancy’s Nachusa Grasslands in Illinois, a famous squad of retired Boykin spaniels (trained by handler John Rucker, a retired high school English teacher from North Carolina) helped scientists track threatened ornate box turtles hidden deep in tallgrass prairie. Thanks to their soft mouths, the dogs gently picked up and retrieved the turtles without causing a single injury, locating more turtles in two hours than human researchers could find in a full week. Talk about efficiency!
  • Pangolin and Ivory Detection: Organizations like Working Dogs for Conservation (WD4C) deploy sniffer dogs to transit hubs and border checkpoints across Africa and Asia. These dogs detect hidden ivory, rhino horn, and pangolin scales with breathtaking accuracy, disrupting illegal poaching networks before products leave the region.
  • Saving the Right Whale: Off the coast of New England and Canada, specialized detection dogs ride on the bows of research boats to sniff out North Atlantic Right Whale scat from over a mile away. Finding these samples allows marine biologists to assess whale stress levels, pregnancy rates, and diet without ever disturbing these critically endangered and majestic ocean giants.
  • Invasive Species Eradication: In New Zealand and Hawaii, local conservation teams rely on dogs to hunt down invasive pests like rats, stoats, and Argentine ants that threaten native bird populations. What would take human teams weeks of destructive searching, a trained dog can pinpoint in a single afternoon. Give these dogs a raise!
  • Locating Invisible Plants: In the American West, dogs sniff out invasive weeds before they bloom above ground, allowing land managers to eradicate problem plants before they overtake native grasslands and fuel wildfire risks. How devastating can invasive plants be if left to run amok? Kudzu, a fast-growing climbing vine known is know as “the vine that ate the South” because it’s now so pervasive and seemingly unstoppable. It was brought to the U.S. from Japan in 1876. 150 years on, we’re still dealing with its destruction.

A Model for Local Agency

What makes working conservation dogs so compelling for community resilience is their low barrier to technology and high degree of local agency. You don’t need a multi-million-dollar lab or proprietary software to run a successful conservation dog program. You need dedicated handlers, strong local knowledge, a deep respect for animal behavior, and imagination.

It re-centers conservation work on human-animal partnerships, bringing local communities directly into the field as active custodians of their own ecosystems.

The Togetherhood Takeaway

True resilience means expanding our toolkit beyond human tech and recognizing the ecological allies already around us.

  • Reframe How We View Nature’s Capabilities: Technology is vital, but biological solutions are often faster, cheaper, and less invasive. Look for opportunities in your own community where natural processes (a community members of all species!) can solve structural problems.
  • Support Local Working Dog Programs: Look into organizations like Working Dogs for Conservation or Rogue Detection Teams. Supporting non-profits that train shelter dogs or rescue breeds for wildlife research gives animals a second life while protecting vital habitats.
  • Become an Active Observer: Dogs succeed because they pay hyper-detailed attention to their environment. Take a cue from our four-legged partners this week: practice active observation in your local parks or urban green spaces to better understand the biodiversity right outside your doorstep.

We can’t tackle the ecological crisis alone. One of our best partners in building a sustainable future is sitting right at our feet, tail wagging and ready to help.

creativity

Day 15: Transforming our mindset through nature

Christa Avampato
Photo by Chinh Le Duc on Unsplash

“My favorite puzzle game is Darwinian Brain Tease…you identify evolutionary riddles and try to think of solutions.” ~David Stipp, Why Rats Laugh & Jellyfish Sleep: And other Enchanting Stories of Evolution

I recently read this book and loved the idea of this game. We can play it anywhere, alone or with other people, and it doesn’t take any tools other than our imagination.

It reminds me of a meditation game I used to play when I was sick and wanted to be anywhere other than in my body. It was the pandemic so I couldn’t go anywhere and couldn’t see people other than my medical team. I would close my eyes and imagine myself as different animals: a snake shedding their skin, a bat flying at night, a giraffe tall and elegant looking down on the world below, and my favorite – imagining myself with my dog Phineas, able to breathe underwater and exploring the ocean with a whale named Blue as our tour guide.

This game connected me to nature, gave me a place to go when I couldn’t go anywhere, and got me outside of my body that was broken and bruised. Putting my mind into nature, even if my body couldn’t be there, shifted my perspective and helped me rest on many nights of relentless insomnia, worry, fear, and grief. I gave those emotions over to nature, and in return I found that they were fuel for creativity and hope.

creativity

Day 27: It takes a village to heal

Christa Avampato

Healing is a group sport. None of us do it alone. My team is enormous and varied, clinically and personally, earth-bound and spiritually. We’re all involved in an intricate dance where even the steps that seem backward in the moment are just part of how this journey unfolds in real-time. Healing isn’t linear. It can’t be. The world and our bodies are forever in motion on the macro and micro levels. Life is chancey and we never know exactly what’s around the bend.

I see this unfold with my foster dogs on an accelerated timeline. I think it’s one of the great tragedies that our beloved best furry friends (bffs) never live long enough no matter how many years we have them. The best we can do is make every day a great day with them.

My current foster is Blondie. She may be familiar to you. I picked up this little senior lady at Animal Care Centers of NYC last summer and fostered her for Muddy Paws. She was adopted quickly because she’s a sweetheart 🥹 and sadly returned 😭.

On top of the very difficult life she had prior to being found running alone and terrified through traffic on the BQE (!) 🤯 and taken to the ACC by a good samaritan, she’s faced a number of health challenges recently.😥

Now she’s back with me. Thanks to the INCREDIBLE care provided by our rockstar Muddy Paws vet team (YES, we have a veterinarian and vet tech on staff in our very own vet clinic!), I’m nursing her back to health and looking for the perfect adopter to help this very deserving girl have a comfortable, joyful retirement chapter. 😍👑

Second, to help Blondie and the 1,000+ dogs we find homes for EVERY YEAR, a generous donor is matching all donations made TODAY. Every $1 you donate instantly becomes $2! 💲💸

If you’d like to make a donation of any size to my fundraising page (truly, EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR HELPS!), that amount will be matched and go directly to helping our dogs find their happy forever homes.

Here is the link to my page and an enormous thank you in advance for helping me, my fosters like Blondie, and the Muddy Paws pack save the lives of more dogs every day: https://give.muddypawsrescue.org/phineas 2026.

Sending lots of love and gratitude to you always! I am so grateful to all of you who support me in my health journey and the dogs in the Muddy Paws pack. We couldn’t heal without you, and healing is the greatest gift we can ever give anyone.

creativity

The 2026 Winter Olympic Mascots Have a High-Tech Biomimicry Secret

Christa Avampato

Meet the stoat: A master of soft robotics and adaptive camouflage who has been refining their technology for 5 million years.

An ermine with a white winter fur coat peaking out from the snow.
Ermine in winter. Photo by National Park Service.

If you’ve been watching the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina this week, you’ve likely seen the mascots: two adorable, ferret-like creatures named Tina and Milo.

They are stoats (also known as ermines when they have their winter white coats!), and they were chosen to represent the games because of their liveliness and resilience. But biologically speaking, the stoat isn’t just cute. They are engineering marvels that have been refining their technology for over 5 million years.

While athletes are pushing the limits of human performance on the slopes, the stoat offers a masterclass in biomimicry—inspiring everything from search-and-rescue robots to “smart” clothing.

Here are three ways this little creature is shaping the future of technology:

1. The Soft Robotics Revolution

The stoat’s superpower is their shape. They’re elongated, highly flexible body allow them to navigate complex, burrow-like environments that other predators can’t touch.

Engineers are now studying this slender agility to design soft, maneuverable robots. Unlike rigid machines, these stoat-inspired bots can twist and flex to navigate narrow, restricted spaces—making them perfect for search-and-rescue operations in collapsed buildings or inspecting intricate pipeline infrastructure.

2. Adaptive Camouflage (Smart Materials)

We know the stoat changes their coat from rusty brown to snowy white in the winter. But biomimicry looks deeper than just the color change.

Researchers are studying the ermine transformation to develop adaptive materials that can change their properties based on environmental cues. Imagine stealth technologies or outdoor gear that doesn’t just insulate, but actively responds to temperature shifts and visual surroundings, mimicking the stoat’s ability to blend seamlessly into a snowy landscape.

3. Algorithms of Efficiency

Stoats are specialized hunters. Their movement is fast, fluid, and incredibly efficient.

Computer scientists are now analyzing their hunting dynamics and even their playful behavior to write better code. The way a stoat moves—making split-second decisions to navigate obstacles while maintaining speed—is informing movement algorithms for autonomous vehicles and drones.

The Togetherhood Takeaway

It is easy to look at nature as sweet and poetic. Nature’s that, and so much more. When we look at a stoat, we are looking at 5–7 million years of R&D and adaptation through experimentation.

As we cheer on the athletes this week, let’s give a little applause to Tina and Milo, too. They aren’t just mascots; they are blueprints for the next generation of adaptive, resilient technology.

Nature doesn’t just survive the winter. She engineers her way through it.

creativity

Breathe Like a Bird (Without Growing Wings)

Christa Avampato
The Golden Tanager, a yellow bird flying in a bright blue sky with wings outstretched.
The Golden Tanager, a high-flying bird native to the Andes Mountains in South America. Photo by Bird Bird on Unsplash.

Last week we looked at why our dogs are sensitive to toxins. This week, we look up. Why birds are the most efficient breathers on Earth—and what they can teach us about stress, stamina, and clearing the air.

Last week, I wrote about how our dogs act as “biological sentinels” in our homes. Because they live on the floor and groom their fur, they are often the first to show the effects of the invisible toxins in our home environment.

But there is another biological sentinel we have relied on for centuries: The canary in the coal mine.

We often use that phrase to describe a warning sign. But have you ever stopped to ask why the canary dies first?

It isn’t just because they are small. It’s because they are superior breathers.

As I was digging into the research on environmental health last week, I learned that birds extract significantly more oxygen from the air than mammals do. While that makes them more vulnerable to pollution, it also makes them athletes of the sky.

The bar-headed goose (Anser indicus) is renowned for its ability to fly directly over the Himalayas during its biannual migration between Central Asia and India, with sightings recorded at altitudes exceeding 28,000 feet, nearly reaching the peak of Mount Everest. The air is so thin at that altitude that it would kill a human. Birds can not only survive but can exert themselves that high in the air because of the unique way they process breath.

Since February is often a month where we feel stifled by the cold of winter (especially this year!), I wondered: Can we learn to breathe like a bird?

The Science: The Circle vs. The Tide

The difference comes down to flow.

Humans breathe like the tide. We have a tidal breath system. We breathe air into an enclosed sac (our lungs), and then we have to push it back out the same way it came in. The problem? We are terrible at emptying the tank. We often leave “stale” air trapped in the bottom of our lungs, mixing fresh oxygen with old carbon dioxide. It’s inefficient.

Birds breathe in a circle. Birds have a system of air sacs that act like bellows. They push air through their lungs in one continuous direction.

  • When a bird inhales, it gets fresh oxygen.
  • The Mind-Blowing Part: When a bird exhales, it moves stored air from a rear sac into the lungs, meaning it gets fresh oxygen again.

They get oxygen on the inhale and the exhale. They never stop fueling the engine.

(If you want to see this in action, watch this 2-minute animation. It completely changed how I visualize breath: https://youtu.be/_NnBgM41jp0)

How Can We Adapt the Breath of a Bird: Focus on the Exhale

We cannot physically grow air sacs (unfortunately). But we can mimic the bird’s efficiency by changing one simple habit.

Most of us are shallow breathers. When we are stressed, we take tiny sips of air, leaving that stale air stagnant in our lungs.

To breathe like a bird, we don’t only need to inhale more; we need to exhale more.

Try this Biomimicry-inspired Bird Breath:

  1. Empty the Tank: Instead of just letting your breath go, actively push the air out until your lungs feel completely empty. Squeeze the abs. Get rid of the “tidal” leftovers.
  2. The Recoil: Once you are truly empty, your body will naturally reflexively gasp for a deep, full breath of fresh air.
  3. Repeat: By focusing on the out, the in takes care of itself.

Nature designed birds to never waste a breath. We might not be able to fly over the Himalayas, but by clearing out the stale air, we can definitely navigate our day with a little more altitude.

creativity

When a Being Needs You: Meeting Tony

Christa Avampato
Me and Tony today

Yesterday, I volunteered at the Muddy Paws Rescue adoption event because they needed some last-minute help. Afterward, I was supposed to pick up two 4-pound puppies who needed a temporary foster overnight. I had my apartment all set up for them; I was so excited. I haven’t had puppies since Dorothy and Sophia, my bloodhound babies, and I’ve never had puppies quite that small. I even caught myself wondering if one of them might be “the one.”

But at the event, plans shifted. A foster arrived and explained they wouldn’t be able to pick up their foster dog if he didn’t get adopted. As excited as I was for those puppies, I knew it would be much harder to find an emergency placement for this 50-pound adult dog who suddenly had nowhere to go.

So, meet Tony: my first foster of 2026.

Tony is a total “hidden gem.” He is an expert snuggler, a master of the “lean,” and a dog who clearly just wants to make his person happy. In the short time he’s been with me, I’ve discovered he is housebroken, a fantastic napper, and surprisingly unphased by other dogs or city noises. While he’s a big boy, he has no prey drive—he’s just a curious guy who is very eager to please, especially if you have a pocket full of treats!

Truthfully, I wasn’t ready to take a foster. I am personally looking to adopt, and I have a massive week ahead with work. I definitely wasn’t looking for a foster this big and strong—I actually had to get a mini-lesson on the best ways to walk a dog of his size while protecting my back, since I’m quite petite and still mindful of my back injury recovery and physical limitations.

Because of my own physical recovery, Tony is looking for a “takeover” foster or—even better—his forever home! He would thrive with someone who has experience with bully breeds and the physical stature to handle his curiosity on walks. He’s already making great progress on the leash and loves working on his brain games, Kongs, and lick mats.

Sometimes, when a being really needs us, we do things before we’re ready. If we all step up just a bit when we see a way to help, the whole system gets better. Every foster dog I’ve had has taught me something. None of those lessons were ones I anticipated; they were lessons I didn’t even know I needed. I’m sure Tony is here to teach me something that will make me a better person, and I’m so happy to be the bridge to his forever home.

Tony is available for adoption through Muddy Paws Rescue.

creativity

Yes, Nature Won in 2025, Too. Here’s What Gives Me Hope.

Christa Avampato
A jaguar in the wild—a symbol of the resilience we are seeing return to the American Southwest. Photo by Ramon Vloon on Unsplash

I started Togetherhood, my weekly nature newsletter, exactly one year ago, and I am so grateful to every one of you who has subscribed, read, shared, and commented on my nature stories along the way.

To mark this one-year anniversary—and the arrival of 2026—I wanted today’s post to focus on the wins nature secured in 2025. Yes, there were heartbreaking losses that felt like a gut punch. But there were also moments of joy and triumph that received far too little coverage. While we must be clear-eyed about the darkness, we must also give the light her due.

Yesterday, CBS Sunday Morning aired a segment with David Pogue on the good news of 2025. It was a perfect reminder that innovation and compassion are still alive and well. Here are two of the standout nature stories from that segment, plus a few other big wins from around the globe that we should celebrate.

The End of “Forever” Plastic? David Pogue highlighted a game-changer happening right now in Massachusetts. A company called Black Earth Compost is proving that single-use doesn’t have to mean forever. They are utilizing a new kind of “plastic” made entirely from sugar cane. Unlike the “biodegradable” labels of the past that didn’t really work, this stuff actually breaks down alongside household food scraps, turning into nutrient-rich compost rather than microplastics in our soil. It’s a closed-loop win we desperately need.

Farmers & Birds: A Surprise Alliance In California, a program is flipping the script on the usual farmer-vs-environmentalist narrative. Pogue spoke with Katie Riley from The Nature Conservancy about the “BirdReturns” program. In this initiative, farmers (like the Zuckerman family in Lodi, CA) are paid to flood their fields during specific times of the year. These pop-up wetlands create crucial rest stops and feeding grounds for migratory birds like Sandhill Cranes. The result? Farmers get a new revenue stream, and bird populations that were struggling are getting a massive lifeline.

Renewables Finally Beat Coal: This isn’t just a projection anymore; it’s a fact. In October, energy think tank Ember confirmed that for the first time in history, renewables generated more electricity globally than coal (34.3% vs 33.1%) in the first half of the year. Solar alone is doing the heavy lifting, meeting 83% of the increase in global power demand.

The High Seas Are Officially Protected: On September 19, we hit a massive milestone: The High Seas Treaty secured its 60th ratification (thanks to Morocco!), which is the magic number needed to make it international law. This triggers the treaty’s entry into force in January 2026, finally allowing us to create marine sanctuaries in the “Wild West” of the open ocean.

Species Bouncing Back:

It’s going to be a tough year ahead, but these stories prove that when we give nature half a chance—or when we get smart about solutions—it has an incredible ability to heal.

See you in 2026! We’ve got work to do, and we’ll work together with nature to make this a better world for all beings.

creativity

Unraveling Ocean Mysteries: The Deep-Sea Spiders Powered by Methane

Christa Avampato
Sericosura sea spiders in this study and maps where they’re found.
From https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2501422122

The ocean’s depths have always held secrets, a vast, unexplored frontier teeming with life that defies our conventional understanding. Just when we think we’ve seen it all, nature delivers another astonishing revelation. Recently, a groundbreaking discovery has captivated the scientific community and nature enthusiasts alike: the first-ever methane-powered sea spiders, thriving in the extreme conditions of the ocean floor.

Imagine a world where sunlight never penetrates, where pressures are crushing, and life seems impossible. Yet, in these seemingly inhospitable environments, vibrant ecosystems flourish, often fueled by chemosynthesis—a process where organisms derive energy from chemical reactions rather than sunlight. While hydrothermal vents and cold seeps are known hubs for such life, the discovery of methane-powered sea spiders introduces a new, fascinating chapter to this narrative.

These remarkable creatures, belonging to the ancient order of Pycnogonida, or “sea spiders,” have long been a source of wonder with their spindly legs and delicate forms. But what makes this new find truly extraordinary is their unique metabolic pathway. Scientists have observed these deep-sea arachnids congregating around methane seeps, areas where hydrocarbon gases leak from the seafloor. Through meticulous research, it was determined that these spiders don’t just live near the methane; they actively utilize it.

The research suggests a symbiotic relationship, perhaps involving specialized bacteria within the spiders’ gut or on their external surfaces, that can metabolize methane. This process converts the potent greenhouse gas into a usable energy source for the spiders, allowing them to thrive in an environment previously thought devoid of complex life forms that could directly tap into methane as fuel. It’s a biological marvel, showcasing evolution’s incredible adaptability.

This discovery has profound implications. It expands our understanding of life’s resilience and the diverse ways organisms can harness energy. It prompts us to reconsider the potential for life in other extreme environments, both on Earth and perhaps beyond. Furthermore, studying these methane-powered spiders could offer insights into novel biochemical processes, potentially leading to advancements in areas like bioremediation or sustainable energy.

The deep sea continues to be an endless source of inspiration and scientific inquiry. The methane-powered sea spider is not just a new species; it’s a testament to the ocean’s boundless capacity for wonder, reminding us that even in the most extreme corners of our planet, life finds a way, often in the most unexpected and awe-inspiring forms. As we continue to explore, who knows what other incredible adaptations await discovery in the mysterious depths below?

animals, creativity

Building Nature’s Highways: Why Wildlife Corridors Matter, Especially in a City Like New York

Christa Avampato
Photo by Maurice Gort on Unsplash

In the urban symphony of honking taxis and bustling sidewalks, it’s easy to forget that New York City is also home to a surprising array of wildlife. From the familiar pigeons and squirrels to more elusive species like coyotes, egrets, and even occasional seals in the harbor, nature finds a way to persist amidst the concrete jungle. However, these urban dwellers face significant challenges, primarily the fragmentation of their habitats. Parks, green spaces, and natural areas exist as isolated islands in a sea of development, making it difficult for animals to move, find food and mates, and maintain healthy populations.

This is where wildlife corridors, also known as green corridors or ecological corridors, become vital. More than just 2 patches of green, these linear stretches of habitat act as nature’s highways, providing safe passage for animals to travel across urban landscapes and limit interactions with humans (which keeps wildlife and humans safe.)

Why are wildlife corridors so important?

The benefits of establishing and maintaining wildlife corridors extend far beyond simply allowing animals to move:

  • Combating Habitat Fragmentation: Urban sprawl carves up natural landscapes, isolating animal populations. Corridors reconnect these fragmented habitats, allowing for greater movement and reducing the risks of inbreeding and localized extinctions.
  • Promoting Biodiversity: By facilitating the flow of individuals between different areas, corridors help maintain genetic diversity within species and support a wider variety of plant and animal life.
  • Supporting Migration and Dispersal: Many species need to move seasonally or disperse to new areas to find resources or establish new territories. Corridors make these crucial movements possible.
  • Enhancing Ecosystem Health: The movement of wildlife aids in essential ecological processes like pollination and seed dispersal, contributing to the overall health and resilience of urban ecosystems.
  • Increasing Climate Resilience: Green corridors can provide areas that may offer refuge as the climate changes, allowing species to shift their ranges. They also contribute to urban cooling and stormwater management by providing more green space – a win for all species, including humans.
  • Providing Educational and Recreational Opportunities: Urban green spaces, including corridors, offer residents opportunities to connect with nature, observe wildlife, and engage in outdoor activities. (However, please don’t touch wildlife or attempt to corner them to get a photo – give them space and let them be.)

Building Nature into the Urban Fabric of New York City

Integrating wildlife corridors into a dense, established metropolis like New York City presents unique challenges, but it is possible. It requires creative thinking, strategic planning, and a commitment to green infrastructure. Here are some ways we can build nature’s highways into our city:

  • Leveraging Existing Green Spaces: Connecting existing parks, community gardens, cemeteries, and natural areas through planted streetscapes, greenways along industrial areas or waterways, and even strategically placed planter boxes can create a network of connected habitats.
  • Creating Green Roofs and Walls: These vertical and horizontal green spaces on buildings can act as steppingstones or even continuous pathways for birds, insects, and small mammals, particularly in areas with limited ground-level space.
  • Utilizing Waterfronts: New York City’s extensive coastline and rivers offer significant opportunities to establish riparian corridors with native vegetation, providing crucial habitat and movement pathways for a variety of species. The Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, while primarily for human use, also offers ecological benefits and could be further enhanced for wildlife.
  • Designing Wildlife Crossings: While more challenging in a dense urban environment, innovative solutions like vegetated overpasses or underpasses could be explored in areas where major roads or highways sever existing or potential green spaces.
  • Prioritizing Native Plants: Filling these corridors with native trees, shrubs, and flowering plants is crucial as they provide the specific food and shelter that local wildlife need. This also reduces the need for intensive maintenance and pesticides.
  • Rethinking Urban Planning and Development: Integrating ecological connectivity into the very fabric of urban planning is key. This includes implementing regulations that encourage green infrastructure in new developments and protecting existing natural areas.
  • Engaging the Community: Educating residents about the importance of urban wildlife and corridors, and involving them in planting and stewardship efforts, can foster a sense of ownership and ensure the long-term success of these initiatives. Programs reducing pesticide use in private gardens and encouraging bird-friendly glass windows to prevent collisions (we lose an astonishing 90,000 to 230,000 birds to window collisions in New York City every year) also contribute to a healthier urban ecosystem.

New York City has already taken steps in this direction with its extensive park system and efforts to restore natural areas. By intentionally building and enhancing wildlife corridors, the city can become a more resilient, biodiverse, and ultimately, more livable place for both its human and animal inhabitants. It’s an investment in the ecological health of the city and a recognition that even in the heart of the urban jungle, nature deserves a connected path forward.

creativity

Beetles and birds show us how to thrive after destruction

Christa Avampato
Black-backed woodpecker. National Park Gallery. Public domain photograph by National Park Service.

For most animals, including humans, wildfires represent a dire threat. The smoke-filled skies and relentless heat leave little room for survival. But against all odds, in the natural world, fires don’t always signal death. For a select few creatures, they actually signal an opportunity—a gateway to survival and even proliferation. These creatures, adapted to the flames, have evolved extraordinary traits to navigate and thrive in fire-scorched environments. From fire-seeking beetles to flame-spreading birds, their stories reveal the unexpected resilience and ingenuity of life in the face of destruction.

1. Pyrophilous Beetles

Pyrophilous (or “fire-loving”) beetles are nature’s fire chasers. Beetles like those of the Melanophila genus (commonly known as fire beetles) can locate forest fires from astonishing distances—up to 80 miles away. Their infrared sensors detect heat, while finely tuned smoke receptors in their antennae guide them toward the source of the flames.

But why seek out fire?

For these beetles, a scorched forest is the perfect nursery. The intense heat weakens a tree’s defenses, making it easier for the beetles to lay their eggs under the bark. The larvae, free from the competition of other insects and predators, feast on the decaying wood. This burned environment provides a sanctuary for growth and ensures the continuation of their lifecycle.

Interestingly, Melanophila beetles are not alone in their fire-seeking pursuits. Other insects, like the Australian fire beetle (Merimna atara) also make the most of fire-damaged forests. They are drawn to the scent of burning eucalyptus trees, where they lay their eggs in the tree’s charred remains. However, these beetles don’t just swoop in to capitalize on scorched earth; they also play a pivotal ecological role. By breaking down charred wood, these insects accelerate the recycling of nutrients back into the ecosystem, enriching the soil and paving the way for new plant growth.

2. Woodpeckers

For certain woodpeckers, fire-scorched forests are not just habitats but lifelines. Species such as the black-backed, red-cockaded, and white-headed woodpeckers depend on post-fire landscapes to survive. When wildfires clear the dense understory of forests, they leave behind standing dead trees, or snags, which are prime real estate for these birds.

The black-backed woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) is particularly adept at thriving in these conditions. Its diet consists largely of the larvae of wood-boring beetles, which proliferate in recently burned forests. By foraging in these areas, the woodpeckers control insect populations and contribute to the balance of the ecosystem.

The red-cockaded woodpecker (Leuconotopicus borealis), a threatened species, and the white-headed woodpecker (Picoides albolarvatus) offer two other compelling examples. These birds rely on mature pine forests that experience periodic low-intensity fires. Fire prevents the growth of competing vegetation and maintains the open, savanna-like conditions these woodpeckers need to nest and forage for food.

In fact, it was even observed that when natural fires were suppressed, red-cockaded woodpecker populations plummeted. Conservationists have since employed controlled burns to mimic natural fire cycles, helping these birds reclaim their niche in the ecosystem.

Fire lessons for us

Fires radically and permanently transform everything they touch. Once something is touched by fire, it is never the same again. The chemical reactions are irreversible.

Since my apartment building fire that happened in 2009, I’ve thought a lot about this idea of the change and rebirth that follows destruction. I was never the same after my fire. It was a long road to heal after that terrible incident.

I used to think of my fire as the worst day of my life. Now, I think of it as one of the best. That experience made me a writer. That experience destroyed my fragile mental health and was the impetus to get the therapy I had needed since I was a child. I was forged in that fire in a way that I would need when I later encountered other challenges such as the pandemic, cancer, losing my beloved Phineas, and difficult career changes.

Yes, it made me resilient, but at a terribly steep price. On the other side of it now, with distance and time, I can see the value. However, I can’t say I’m eager to go through something like that again. And yet, when I look around at our world today, I think we may not have a choice. The proverbial fires are being set. Like the animals that have to adapt to their habitat changed my fire, I think we may find ourselves in a similar position in the not-to-distant future. We may be there already.

I don’t know how we’ll adapt to a new world order as these animals have done. I have a lot of questions, and I’m trying to live my way into the answers. What is my role in the midst of the fire? What will remain? How will we pick up the pieces and build something new from them? How will what we build from what remains help those who come after us? How can we use nature as a guide and collaborator in our rebuilding?