Our hearts go out to any animals in need, but for those that live in Brooklyn, the need is often seen with the feral cats in the area.
Some of those cats may even struggle to survive day-to-day and if it weren’t for the kindness of strangers, they would be in dire straits.
Some of those humans that help with the feral cats do more than just put out a little food, they offer a service to help reduce the feral cat population. Flatbush Cats offers that service, known as TNR (trap, neuter, release).
It was while they were caring for a feral cat in a Brooklyn neighborhood that they noticed another stray. Neighbors said the cat was waiting in the cold outside for days wanting help.
This wasn’t your average feral cat. All cats are beautiful, but this little feline obviously came from a home and was very sweet and gentle.
They could tell right away that she was used to being around humans and she didn’t waste any time warming up to the volunteers.
When she noticed Flatbush Cats in the area, she came up to them. It took nothing for her to accept their attention and before long, they were able to get her in a carrier and whisk her off to a new life.
That gentle cat was named Flora, and she was thrilled to live indoors again. She liked being the center of attention and never missed an opportunity to sit on a lap or get a nice scratch under the chin.
Flatbush Cats also recognized that Flora needed some medical help, and thanks to donations, they were able to get her to a veterinarian.
After being cared for, Flora was off to a forever home, where she would find the love and attention she needed and deserved.
I just love a happy ending.
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
