wild nyc: explore the amazing nature in and around new york city

A vibrant, family friendly guide to the unexpected nature found in and around the Big Apple.

New York City may have a reputation as a concrete jungle, but in reality, it’s full of amazing wildlife. You just need to know where to find it! Equal parts natural history, field guide, and trip planner, Wild NYC has something for everyone. It looks at the factors that shape local nature--including fire, floods, and climate--and profiles over 100 local species, from easy-to-spot squirrels and praying mantids to more elusive humpback whales, purple finches, and so much more. Also included are descriptions of day trips that help you explore natural wonders on hiking trails, in public parks, and on your own street.

Ryan F. Mandelbaum is a science writer, naturalist, and educator based in New York City. You can find them searching for critters across the five boroughs before returning home to Brooklyn to observe birds and moths from the roof of their apartment. Ryan has written about the natural world of New York City for the New York Times, Scientific American, Gizmodo, Audubon Magazine, Gothamist, and their newsletter eyy, i’m walkin’ here. Ryan volunteers for the New York State Breeding Bird Atlas, the organization formerly known as New York City Audubon, the Finch Research Network, and the Feminist Bird Club. When not thinking about birds, Ryan works full-time at IBM as a physics writer.

Chelsea Beck is an illustrator and art director living with her husband and their weird little dog in Brooklyn, New York. She loves to find the humor in just about everything, up to and including New York’s beautiful wildlife. With two books, three full-time jobs, one billboard, and countless freelance gigs under her professional belt, Chelsea is looking forward to whatever adventure befalls her next.