NYC squirrels saved from ‘certain death’ inside barren construction site as locals step in to rescue creatures
The construction at John V. Lindsay East River Park has displaced dozens of hungry squirrels, activists say. Facebook/Anthony Donovan
Life in New York City can be tough—even for squirrels.
Dozens of squirrels in Manhattan’s East Village were left stranded and starving last month after the city cleared large sections of John V. Lindsay East River Park as part of its shoreline resiliency project. With their trees suddenly gone, the animals were left inside a concrete construction zone with no food, water, or shelter—easy prey for hawks circling overhead, furious residents told The Post.
“It’s certain death without city intervention,” said Michelle Ashkin, president of Voices for Urban Wildlife, who helped organize a meeting between residents, activists, and the mayor’s office. “They’ll die of starvation, stress, heat exhaustion. These squirrels are New Yorkers too, and nobody wants to watch them suffer because of poor planning.”
After mounting complaints, the Department of Design and Construction brought in a licensed animal management team, which has since trapped and relocated more than a dozen squirrels to the Wildlife Freedom Foundation. The operation will continue until all remaining animals are either captured or disperse on their own.
A city spokesperson defended the project, stressing that it’s part of the $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency initiative designed to shield more than 100,000 New Yorkers from flooding and sea level rise. More than 1,800 new trees will eventually be planted in East River Park, with another 1,000 placed in surrounding neighborhoods.
Still, residents say the response only came because of public pressure. “They removed the only refuge these squirrels had left,” said longtime East Village resident Anthony Donovan, who had filed complaints with 311 and other agencies before action was taken. “That to me is the crime.”
Other locals echoed the outrage. “They should safeguard the animals—whether it’s squirrels, chipmunks, or ducks in the East River,” said Lower East Side resident Adrian Betancourt.
Teenager Marianni Cuello Batista, 14, questioned the city’s approach entirely: “A precaution could be just to leave the trees alone. I don’t know why they have to chop them down.”
Ashkin said the bigger problem is how city planners repeatedly overlook wildlife during major projects. The official environmental impact statement for the East River work contained no measures to protect squirrels or other small animals.
“You need an environmental review that includes wildlife,” Ashkin said. “This was either an unintended consequence or they didn’t involve the right experts. Wildlife cannot just be collateral damage.”
About Post Author
